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LECTURES TO CHILDREN, 



LAST HOURS 



LORD JESUS CHRIST. 



" Redemption ! 'twas the labor of the skies.' 



By CHARLES A. GOODRICH. 



4 

HARTFORD, 
DANIEL BURGESS and CO. 

183 5. 



2>T3 1 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1835, by Daniel 
Burgess & Co. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Con- 
necticut. 



23j£> 



J. HUBBARD WELLS. ...PRINT. 



dONTSNfl, 



INTRODUCTION. 

Story of a boy. He becomes wicked — leaves his parents — goes to sea— =» 
is shipwrecked — is thrown upon a desolate island — suffers from 
hunger, &x. — is taken off by a humane captain — reaches home. Ap- 
plication of the story. Children more indebted to Christ, than the 
boy was to the captain. The soul in danger. Proof that children 
are wicked. Instance of a boy. All in a state of condemnation. 
How God can save sinners. Instance of a brother suffering for an- 
other brother. Christ suffered for sinners. His death creates a debt 
of gratitude, which we can never pay, . . Page 13 

LECTURE I. 

GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. 

Situation and description of the Garden of Gethsemane. Christ and 
his disciples assemble there, the evening before his crucifixion. A 
most solemn time with them. Manner in which they had spent the 
afternoon. Passover. Washing of the disciples' feet. Annuncia- 
tion by Jesus that one would betray him. Departure of Judas. 
Lord's supper. Discourse of Jesus to his disciples. His wonderful 
affection, . . . . . . , 38 



VI CONTENTS. 

LECTURE II. 

GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. 

Retirement of Jesus to the Mount of Olives. Uis prayer there. Ob- 
servations. Enters the garden. Withdraws for prayer with Peter, 
James, and John. Manifestation of great sorrow* Heaviness of the 
disciples. Agony of Jesus. Appearance of Judas, and the band. 
Jesus taken. Observations, ..... 55 

LECTURE III. 

THE TRIAL OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Flight of the disciples. Caiaphas. Sanhedrim. Jesus arraigned be- 
fore the council. Attempt to make Jesus convict himself. TriaL 
Condemnation. Design of bringing him before a Roman tribunal. 
Insults previously offered to him. His patience and humility. 
Brought before Pilate. Sent by Pilate to Herod. Return to Pilate, 
who attempts to release him. Dream of Pilate's wife. Clamors- 
of the Jews. Decision of Pilate. Jesus scourged, . . 74 

LECTURE IV. 
END OF JUDAS AND DENIAL OF PETER. 

The whole life of Jesus a life of sorrow. Treachery of Judas. Rea- 
son of it. His sense of guilt. Confession of the innocence of Je- 
sus. Commits suicide. Flight of the disciples. Character of Peter. 
His conduct in the hall of the palace—in the porch— on his return in- 
to the hall. His denial. Bitterness of his repentance. Essential 
difference between good and bad men. Observations, . . 99 



CONTENTS. VU 

LECTURE V. 

CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Introductory remarks. Conduct of the soldiers tow ards Jesus. Place 
of crucifixion. Affecting Incident. Description of a cross. Man- 
ner in which Jesus was placed upon it. The malefactors. Con- 
duct of the soldiers and the Jews. Different conduct and fate of the 
malefactors. Prayer of Jesus on the cross. Tenderness towards 
his mother. Death. Sympathy of nature with his sufferings. 
Observations, ....... 119 

LECTURE VI. 

THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. 

Request of the Jews to hasten the death of Jesus. Found already dead. 
Proof that he was dead. Why he died, so much sooner than 
was common in cases of persons crucified. The tomb of Joseph 
ofArimathea. Manner in which bodies were laid in ancient sep- 
ulchres. Measures taken by the Jews to prevent the body of Je- 
sus from being stolen. The importance of the question, "Did Je- 
sus rise from the dead?" Appearance of the women at the sep- 
ulchre. Arrival of Peter and John. Discovery made by Jesus of 
himself to Mary Magdalene. To Peter. To two disciples, on their 
way to Emmaus. To all the disciples, except Thomas. To them, 
when Thomas was present. Other appearances. Could the dis- 
ciples have been deceived 1 Were they honest 1 Story of the 
Jews to account for his absence from the sepulchre. Ascen- 
sion, .137 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

LECTURE VII. 

CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

Manner in which Christ ascended. His welcome into heaven. Joy 
and grief of the disciples at his departure. Jesus still lives in heaven . 
Heaven a blessed place. Society of Heaven. Will children ever 
reach heaven 1 What they must do for that purpose. Heaven a 
holy place, and those that go thither must be holy also. Children 
may die soon. Their souls of immortal value. The soul not to 
be sacrificed for the world. A source of great danger. Never be 
ashamed of Christ, ...... 170 



PREFACE, 



No narrative, perhaps, contains more points of 
thrilling interest, than that of the Evangelists, in the 
record they give of the closing scenes in the life of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. No one can hope to im- 
prove upon the beauty, simplicity, or interest of their 
account. This, the author has not had the arrogance 
to attempt. But to eyerj attentive reader of the 
Evangelists, it will be apparent, that no one of them 
records a full account of the death and sufferings of 
Jesus Christ. Their narratives were written at dif- 
ferent times, each succeeding writer adding some- 
what to the account given by his predecessor. The 
true and full account of the last hours of the Son of 
God, is the sum total of what all the Evangelists 
have recorded, when faithfully compared, and drawn 
out in a connected statement. This comparison, 
children would find it difficult to make ; and even 
" children of a larger growth,'' might find it interest- 



X PREFACE. 

ing and profitable to peruse an account, in which 
the principal circumstances are related in the order, 
in which they transpired. But the work has been 
prepared especially for u children of a smaller 
growth ;" and, as was natural, such observations 
and reflections are interspersed, as were deemed ne- 
cessary, either to a better understanding of the nar- 
rative, or important by way of moral impression and 
improvement. 

In respect to points, in which the Evangelists have 
been supposed by some not precisely to agree, the 
author has endeavored to obviate such difficulties, 
where he could do it, without elaborate discussion. 
In relation to the explanation of some facts, it is well 
known, that the most respectable authorities differ. 
Those explanations, which appeared most natural 
and consistent, have been adopted. After all, it is 
quite probable, that some may differ from the author, 
as to the opinions, he has adopted. Should this be 
so, all he asks is a candid comparison of the narra- 
tive of the Evangelists ; and if, at length, those 
opinions should be found to be unsupported, let his 
errors be charged to his head, rather than to his 
heart. 

The work, it will be obvious, is not designed for 
children of a very early age. The nature of some 



PREFACE. XI 

of the subjects seemed not to admit of being reduced 
to a level with their comprehension, but at the sacri- 
fice of dignity and propriety. A familiar style has 
been adopted, and familiar illustrations admitted ; 
but the hope is indulged, that nothing derogatory to 
a high and sublime subject will be found to have a 
place. 

In conclusion, if the work shall have the effect to 
awaken in the minds of children gratitude to a Sa- 
viour, who died for them, and lead them to conse- 
crate themselves to his service and glory, the chief 
object of the author will have been attained. That 
that this may be the result of his labors, he offers his 
prayers to Him, who by his death purchased the 
Spirit, and has sent that Spirit down, to " convince 
the world of sin, of righteousness, and of a judgment 
to come." 



INTRODUCTION. 



Contents.— Story of a boy. He becomes wicked— leaves his parents 
—goes to sea — is shipwrecked— is thrown upon a desolate island — suf- 
fers from hunger, &c. — is taken off by a humane captain — reaches 
home. Application of the story. Children more indebted to Christ 
than the boy was to the captain. The soul in danger. Proof that 
children are wicked. Instance of a boy. All in a state of condem- 
nation. How God can save sinners. Instance of a brother suffering 
for another brother. Christ suffered for sinners. His death creates a 
debt of gratitude, which we can never pay. 



MY DEAR CHILDREN, 

I have a story to tell to you, about a boy. 
I will tell it, as nearly as I am able to recollect 
it. The story will help me to impress upon 
you a very solemn truth, which I wish you to 
keep in mind, while you read the present vol- 
ume. 

There was once a boy, who had a good 

home, and kind parents. These parents loved 

their son, and did all in their power to make 

him happy. He was well fed and clothed, and 

2 



14 INTRODUCTION. 



Leaves his father's house. 



had every comfort and indulgence, which he 
ought to have desired. 

One would think, that such a boy would 
have loved such a home, and would have tried 
to please his parents. For a time, he did so. 
He was kind and faithful and obedient; and 
every body thought, that he would continue 
well disposed, and grow up to be a wise and 
respectable man. 

But it did not prove so. After a time, his 
conduct was changed. He lost his regard for 
truth, and often indulged in wicked language; 
he was unkind to his companions, and diso- 
bedient to his parents. At length, he resolved 
to abandon his father's house, and go to sea. 
His parents wept over him, and begged him 
not to act so unkindly, and especially not to 
forsake them, and the good home he had. 

But their counsels were to no purpose. He 
would go. And one day, getting into a pas- 
sion about some trifle, he packed up his clothes, 
and suddenly left his father's house. He 



INTRODUCTION. 15 

Goes to sea. Unhappy. 

scarcely knew which way to go; but directed 
his course to a certain town, not far distant, 
where was a vessel about to sail on a whaling 
voyage, in which he hoped to get a berth. 

When he reached the wharf, the vessel was 
nearly ready. So he applied to the captain to 
take him. The captain inquired who he was, 
and whether he had liberty to go. By telling 
a number of falsehoods, he made out a fair 
story, and the captain told him to come on 
board, and wait upon him. 

The sails not long after were hoisted ; and, 
with a fair wind, they put to sea. She was a 
fine ship, and sailed well. For a time, all 
things were prosperous. The sky was clear 
— the wind fair — and all on board appeared 
quite joyful — except one. 

That one was the boy, about whom I am 
telling you. He was far from being happy. 
How could he be happy 1 Oh ! no, that was 
impossible. He had acted a wicked part. 
He had abused his kind parents — had left his 



16 INTRODUCTION. 



A storm. 



home — had obtained his present place by 
falsehood; and, whenever asked about his 
parents, and place of abode, he was obliged to 
tell other falsehoods to keep up a fair story. 
Such a boy happy ! No, indeed — with such a 
heart as he had — and such wicked conduct as 
he had shown, how could he be happy? 

Yet, unhappy as he was, he had no desire to 
return home. He had no wish to become 
better. But every day he grew bolder in sin, 
and resolved never more to return — -for he had 
no wish to confess the wrong he had done. 

At length, one day, when they had sailed 
some weeks, a dark cloud appeared to rise 
upon them. The captain watched it. He 
felt anxious. " We shall have a blow," said 
he, "all hands to your posts." Every one 
sprang at his bidding. The sails were reefed 
— the ropes were stayed — every thing was 
lashed strong and tight. The cloud came 
over, and the storm began its blast. For three 
days the wind continued to rage — the billows 



INTRODUCTION. 17 



The shipwreck. 



tossed and foamed, and dashed abroad and 
around. 

At length, about midnight of the third day, 
the roar of the waters breaking upon rocks 
was distinctly heard. Nothing could be done. 
"We are lost — we are lost," exclaimed the 
captain, as the sound broke upon his ear. 
And, at that instant, the ship made a plunge 
upon a reef, a short distance from the shore. 
A wave followed, which swept the whole crew 
into the sea — all of whom found a watery 
grave — but one. That one was the boy. 

It was wonderful, that he alone should have 
escaped. But so it was. The wave which 
swept the captain and seamen to the bottom, 
bore him forward with great swiftness, and 
left him almost senseless on the shore. That 
wave went back, and before another returned, 
he was just able to get beyond its reach. 

Here he lay till morning — wet, cold, and 
stiff; — and when the day came, he was scarce- 



18 INTRODUCTION. 



The desolate island. 



ly able to walk, by reason of the bruises^ 
which he had received. But as the sun shed 
down his warm and refreshing beams, he rose 
and looked abroad. What were his feelings ! 
He found himself on a small, desolate island ; 
and on every side of him, the billows of the 
ocean were rolling in awful grandeur. The 
ship had gone to pieces, and its fragments 
were tumbling upon the shore, and among 
hem he could perceive several of the dead 
bodies of her crew. 

A faintness came over him, as he dwelt 
upon the scene. His heart was desolate. 
Ah ! what should he now do ? Where should 
he obtain food ? Where find shelter by night ? 
Here, far from home and friends, he must pine 
away and die. Home ! he had fled from a 
home, for which he ought every day to have 
been thankful. Parents ! he had ill-treated 
the kindest parents on earth, and had left 
them in a fit of passion. 

And, now, how justly was lie punished! 



INTRODUCTION. 19 



No hope- A ship at anchor. 

God was leaving him to anxiety and distress, 
to show him how wicked he had been. Sev- 
eral days passed. In the clefts of some rocks 
by the shore, he found a few shell-fish, which 
served to sustain him. But every day he 
grew weaker for want of food; — but these suf- 
ferings were small in comparison with his 
distress, on account of his past conduct, and 
future prospects. But what could he do ? 
From what quarter now 7 look for help ? He 
groaned and wept. He dragged his feeble 
limbs from one rock to another— he looked 
around — he gazed on the ocean, till his weary 
eyes could gaze no longer — and often did he 
sink down in hopeless despair. 

One morning, after a night of more than 
usual anxiety and distress, he rose and creep- 
ing forth from beneath a rock under which, 
he had found a shelter — he looked abroad. 
But wiiat were his emotions ! At a little dis- 
tance from the shore, lay a ship at anchor! His 
heart beat violently. His whole frame treml> 



20 INTRODUCTION. 



The only chance. 



led. " God of my fathers," he exclaimed, 
" praised be thy name. 75 But immediately he 
thought — " Will God, indeed, be merciful ? 
Will he forgive a wretch like me ? Help is 
near — but will it avail me ? Can I make the 
captain discover me? Will he regard me with 
pity? Will he send a boat and take me on 
board?" 

Hope inspired him with unwonted 
strength. Could he gain a certain higher point 
of land, not far distant, perhaps he might be 
seen. It was his only chance. He put forth 
all his powers. With the help of a stick, 
which served him as a staff, he at last succeed- 
ed. Here, taking his handkerchief, he tied it 
to the stick, and waved it as he was able, in 
full view of the ship. For a time, no one 
saw him. His heart sickened to its core; 
and, bursting into tears, he exclaimed, "It is 
all in vain !" But just at that instant, he saw 
several persons advancing to the side of the 
vessel. He now felt sure that they discovered 



INTRODUCTION. 21 



Tlie rescue. 



him. Presently, a gun was fired, and then a 
second and a third. It was the promise of 
relief, and he almost died from joy. 

Shortly after, a boat was seen putting off, 
and making for the shore. In a little time she 
landed. He would have rushed to the place, 
and been ready to meet his deliverers. But this 
was impossible. His strength, through the 
joy and agitation of his heart was gone; — and 
in the same spot he lay, until the seamen came, 
and bore him in their arms to the boat; and in 
the bottom he lay, till she reached the ship. 

I will only add, that the humane captain did 
all in his power to restore his exhausted frame. 
During the voyage, he did recover. And 
after a long and circuitous passage, in which 
he was several times again nearly lost, he, at 
length, reached his father's house. Here, like 
the prodigal mentioned in the gospel, he con- 
fessed his sins, with many tears, and was wel- 
comed by his parents as a son, who was sup- 
posed to be " dead, but was alive," — who 
" was lost, and was found." 



22 IxNTRODUCTION. 



A solemn question. 



And now, my children, I have a question to 
ask you, and I wish you to consider it. It is 
this, " Can you think of a human being, who 
could be under greater obligations of gratitude, 
than that boy was to the captain, who saved 
him?" 

Can you think of one ? Perhaps you can- 
not. But I can. I can think of hundreds, 
and I might name them. But I will name only 
you. 

Us ! us ! — what, us children ! — we under 
greater obligations of gratitude than this boy I 
and pray, sir, to whom ? and on ivhat account ? 

I will tell you. You are under far greater 
obligations to the Lord Jesus Christ than 
that boy was, or could be to the humane cap- 
tain. Yes, as much greater, as your souls are 
of more worth than the body ; as much great- 
er, as eternity is longer than time. 

Does this surprise you ? But it is even so, 
children, and, if you will attend, I will endeav- 
or to convince you. 



INTRODUCTION. 23 

The body may die. The soul never. 



You have bodies and souls. The body you 
know must one day die. It may die soon. 
Children often die, and their little bodies are 
laid in the grave, and moulder away. But the 
soul never dies — no, never. That will live for- 
ever. 

Now, of how much more value must, that 
be which never dies, than that which must one 
day die, and may die at any moment. The 
body without the soul is of little use. That 
you know. It feels nothing of itself — knows 
nothing. It cannot walk — it cannot move — ■ 
it cannot enjoy. 

Now, look at it. The boy of whom I have 
told you, had a body and a soul. Had his 
body died on the desolate island, his soul 
would still have lived. It was, indeed, a mat- 
ter of thankfulness, that the captain saved his 
body from dying. And he did feel grateful. 
But suppose his soul had been in danger of 
being lost forever, — that is, of being miserable 



24 INTRODUCTION. 



What is the body to the soul 7 



forever, and some one had come and saved 
that, and made him happy forever, would he 
not have had greater cause of thankfulness to 
that person, than to the captain, who saved 
only his body ? 

Ah ! children, there is no telling how much 
more grateful one should be, for the salvation 
of the soul, than of the body. Suppose the 
house in which you live takes fire— you would 
feel grateful to the person, who should put 
out the fire, and save the house. But how 
much more thankful ought you to be, if you 
yourselves were likely to be burned up, should 
he rush in, and rescue you ? You might regret, 
the loss of your house ; but if you were saved, 
you would think comparatively little of that. 
Now, the body is the house, in which the soul 
lives. It is only its lodging place, and it has a 
value while your soul lives in it, and because 
the soul does live in it. But what is the house, 
in comparison with its inhabitants ? And what 
is the body, in comparison with the soul? While 



LNTRODUCTION. 25 



Tlie soul in danger. 



the soul resides in the body, you should, in- 
deed, be grateful to any one who saves the body, 
if exposed to die; but how much more thankful 
I repeat, should you be to one, who saves the 
soul, when that is in danger of eternal death? 

But is the soul in such danger ? 

Yes, indeed, it is. It is in danger of eter- 
nal death. I do not mean by this, that the 
soul can die, as does the body — but I mean 
that it may be forever miserable. This is called 
eternal death. 

And the soul is in danger of this. And this 
danger arises from the evil, which it has done 
in the world. All do wrong. There is no 
one that lives, and does not sin. This is as 
true of children, as of grown persons. They 
may not sin as much, nor as vilely; but they 
do sin, and they sin early. For example, 
children often deceive, when God bids them 
speak the truth. They quarrel, when they 
should live in peace. They play on the Sab- 
bath, when they should "remember" that day 
3 



26 INTRODUCTION. 



Children wicked early. 



and " keep it holy." They disobey their pa- 
rents, when they should honor and love them. 
And they love their toys and trifles, even more 
than the great God himself. 

It is wonderful how wicked some children 
are. They become wicked, at a very early 
age. A short time since, a boy in the State 
of Maine was sent to the State Prison, for 
nine years. He was but twelve years of age ; 
yet, though so young, he was guilty of cruelty 
towards another boy, about seven years of 
age, which shocked all the people, in that 
part of the country. I will briefly tell you 
how it was. The older boy whose name was 
Mitchell, one day, asked the younger boy to 
go with him, and get some flags. They had 
not proceeded far, when Mitchell threw him 
down, and began to pound him. A woman 
hearing the little boy cry, ran to his relief, 
rescued him, and sent him home. Before 
he reached home, however, Mitchell overtook 
him, and dragged him to a pond, and threw 



INTRODUCTIOxX. 27 



Story. 



him in. The little boy contrived to get out 
of the water, upon which Mitchell pulled 
off his clothes, and tied his hands and feet 
to a tree. Next, he made him eat brakes 
and box-berry leaves, and put a large hand- 
ful of mud into his mouth; and then whip- 
ped him, because he could not swallow it. 
Next, he dragged him to a tree, which had 
been blown down, and put him under the 
roots of it. Then, he struck him with a club 
over his nose, and when the poor little boy put 
his hand to his nose, he struck him again, be- 
cause he did so. Again, he carried him to 
the brook, and putting his head under water, 
threatened to drown him. But the whole story 
is too painful to be told. I will therefore only 
add what the little boy said, when he was ex- 
amined before the court. I will give it in his 
own words. "Mitchell said, he was going to 
give me a hundred blows, and bid me count 
them. I counted when he counted. We 
counted thirty-eight together, and then I 



28 INTRODUCTION. 



Storv. 



counted further, and skipped some — he whip- 
ped me over the legs ahout thirty blows after 
this. He used as many as six sticks, if not 
more — the sticks were about as big as my 
finger, the butt ends were larger. He broke 
up all the sticks in beating me. I was tied 
by my hands all this time, naked. The trees 
to which I was tied, were about as big round 
as my leg. He did not tell me what he was 
going to do. When he got me to the water, 
he both times held me down— put my face in 
the water, and held it down. I could not see 
how he stood. He put the leaves and brakes 
into my mouth, when I was tied. I then lay 
with my back on some brush-wood." 

What a shocking proof is here of a wicked 
disposition! But you say, perhaps, that all 
children are not thus wicked. O no, I hope 
there are but few. But, then, one such case 
shows what a child may do. And, though 
you think you could never be thus cruel, you 
might be, if you had not parents, or friends to 
bring you up to know better. 



INTRODUCTION. 29 

What children may do. 



You have wicked hearts, and there is no tell- 
ing what wicked deeds they would not prompt 
you to do, were you left to yourselves. Set- 
tle it, then, children, that you all sin — sin early, 
and often sin in your hearts — in your thoughts 
— in your wishes, far more than you suspect. 

Now, then, how does the great God regard 
sinners ? Does he approve of their conduct ? 
By no means. He " is angry with the wicked 
every day." His holy law condemns them 
all — even children, for the evil which they 
have done. And should God punish them, as 
they deserve, they would be miserable forever. 
The Catechism says, " Every sin deserves 
God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and 
that which is to come." And the Bible says, 
u Cursed is every one that continueth not in all 
things, written in the book of the law, to do 
them." And it further says, "The soul that 
sinneth, it shall die;" that is, it shall be miser- 
able forever. 

You will ask me, then, perhaps, will God 

3* 



30 INTRODUCTIOxW 



Will God save any ? 



save any ? Can he save any, and be a God of 
truth ? He has said, " the soul that sinneth, it 
shall die." How then can he save any one ? 

This is, indeed, a solemn question. I do 
not wonder that you ask it. I do not wonder 
that it should trouble you. But attend, and I 
will explain what plan God has adopted, that 
he may be just and true, and yet save all who 
are willing to forsake sin, and be saved. 

Suppose a king makes a law, that if any 
one of his subjects commits murder, he shall 
be put to death. Shortly after, a man is taken 
up for this very crime. He is brought before 
a court, where murder is proved against him. 
By the law of the king, he must suffer death, 
and the judge passes sentence, and fixes the 
day for his execution. 

Before that day arrives, however, a brother 
of the man condemned goes to the king, and 
says, " Sir, I am a brother of the man con- 
demned for murder. Your law is a good one. 
It must be enforced. My brother is guilty, 



INTRODUCTION. 31 

A case supposed. 



and ought to suffer death. But will your ma- 
jesty allow me to suffer in his stead V 

The king thinks. He says, " This man is 
not guilty ; but his brother is. But if he is wil- 
ling to suffer for his brother, what evil will 
arise ? My subjects will still see, and feel, 
that the law r is good, and that it will be enforced. 
The guilty one ought to die ; but if this man is 
willing to suffer for his brother, the same purpose 
will be ansrvered."^ 

Thus the king reasons. And, as he made 
the law, he has a right so far to alter it, as to 
allow one to die for another. One must die. 
This the king cannot alter, and be a man of 
truth ; but he may be a man of truth, and con- 
sent that one, if he be willing, should die for 
another. 

Now, my children, very much such a plan 
was adopted by the infinite God, that mankind 
might be saved. He had said " The soul that 
sinneth, it shall die; 55 that is, be punished for- 
ever — sinners were to go down to hell, and be 
tormented to all eternity. 



32 INTRODUCTION. 



Christ offers to die for sinners. 



Not that God was desirous that they should 
thus suffer: he would take no pleasure in their 
eternal ruin. But what should be done ? The 
law, which forbade sin, was a good one. It 
must be enforced. But if enforced, how could 
any of mankind be saved ? How could it be 
done? Ah! that was a question, which Ga- 
briel could not have answered. 

But Jesus, the Son of God, could answer 
the question. He knew how it could be done. 
He came forward, and offered to descend to 
earth, and suffer for the children of men. He 
would step in, and, by dying on the cross, 
would show how good the law was, which 
forbid sin, and that it must be enforced. This 
he was willing to do. Though "rich,'' he 
was willing to become " poor;" though honor- 
ed, he was willing to suffer shame ; though 
happy, and blessed, he was willing to endure 
sorrow, and even death itself, if men might be 
saved. This, his love and compassion prompt- 
ed him to do. The poet has beautifully said: 



INTRODUCTION. 33 



A glorious plan. 



So Jesus thought on dying man, 
When throned above the sky ; 

And mid th' embraces of his God, 
He felt compassion rise. 

This, then, was the plan adopted by God, 
that salvation might be offered to mankind. 
The same ends are answered by the death of 
Christ, that would have been answered, had 
all mankind suffered to all eternity. This plan, 
God, as a God of truth, could, with propriety, 
adopt. He could not repeal his law. He 
could not pass by sin. It must be punished. 
But another might suffer, in the room of sin- 
ners, and thus a foundation be laid to offer 
pardon to all such, as would repent and be- 
lieve on Christ. 

This was a glorious plan. Indeed, it was. 
Angels thought so, for when Christ, at length, 
was born, in Bethlehem, with what joy did a 
company of angels come from heaven to an- 
nounce the delightful tidings ! 



34 INTRODUCTION. 



Song of Bethlehem. Jesus born. 

Down through the portals of the sky, 

Th' impetuous torrent ran ; 
And angels flew with eager joy, 

To bear the news to man. 

And how they did sing ! Never was there 
such an anthem on earth before. When God 
had finished the creation, " the morning stars 
sang together, and all the sons of God shout- 
ed for joy." That was a song of wonder and 
delight. But, when the angels sung on the 
plains of Bethlehem, there was heavenly love 
mingled with the song. They sung as they 
sing in heaven ; and well they might sing ; and 
I hope, my children, that you may one day be 
there, and sing a song which angels can nev- 
er sing, because they never sinned, and were 
never redeemed. 

Jesus Christ, as I said, was born in Beth- 
lehem, in Judea, a country in Asia. He was 
the Son of God. He descended from heaven. 
He came to suffer, and die for the children of 
men. He lived on earth thirty-three or thir- 



INTRODUCTION. 



Had not Christ died. 



ty-four years. During all this period, he suf- 
fered much, as you may learn, by reading the 
story of his life- 
It is no part of my design to relate the par- 
ticulars of his life. But I shall confine myself 
to scenes, which took place a little before his 
crucifixion. I wish to show you what he suf- 
fered, and how he suffered ; and I wish you to 
remember, children, that he suffered for you. 
as well as for others. Had he not come from 
heaven — had he not died on the cross — not a 
single one of all the children of men could ev- 
er have been saved. The holy law of God 
would have been put in force ; and by that law 
all. without exception, would have sunk to ru- 
in. The law itself knows nothing of mercy — 
thinks nothing of mercy. The language of the 
law is. u Cursed is every one that continueth 
not in all things written in the book of the law 
to do them." Nothing is here said about par- 
don for sin. 

The gospel alone tells how sin may be par- 



36 INTRODUCTION. 



A delightful debt. 



doned — how souls may be prepared for heav- 
enly glory. 

This remedy did wisdom find, 
To heal diseases of the mind ; 
This sovereign balm, whose virtues can 
Restore the ruin'd creature, man. 

The gospel bids the dead revive ; 
Sinners obey the voice and live ; 
Dry bones are raised and clothed afresh, 
And hearts of stone are turned to flesh. 

Read, then, children, the following pages ; 
and remember, while you read them, that to 
Jesus you owe a debt of gratitude, which you 
can never pay. You may employ a whole 
eternity in paying that debt, and it will contin- 
ue to increase, through every moment of it. 
But it will be a delightful debt ; you will be 
joyful in paying it, and happy to see it increase. 
But enter upon the payment of it now. You 
cannot begin too soon. You can never praise 
Jesus enough. If you love him as you ought> 



INTRODUCTION. 37 



How vain are mortal airs. 



you will wish to praise him, in a higher and 
still sweeter note, every month and year of 
your lives. And when you have raised that 
song as high as you are able, you will wish to 
raise it still higher; and, after all your efforts, 
we shall hear you exclaim — not as you hang 
your harps upon the willows — but as you 
sweep them strong and full — we shall hear 
you exclaim : 

Who shall fulfil this boundless song ? 
The theme surmounts an angel's tongue ; 
How low, how vain, are mortal airs. 
When Gabriel's nobler harp despairs. 



LECTURE X. 



GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. 



Contents. — Situation and description of the garden of Gethsemane. 
Christ and his disciples assemble there, the evening before his crucifix- 
ion. A most solemn time with them. Manner in which they had 
spent the afternoon. Passover. Washing of the disciple's feet. Com- 
munication by Jesus that one would betray him. Departure of Ju- 
das. Lord's Supper. Discourse of Jesus to his disciples. His won- 
derful afTection. 



Let us suppose ourselves in Judea, upon a 
mountain in that country, called the Mount of 
Olives. Look round, and observe the pros- 
pect. 

The top and sides of the mountain are thin- 
ly covered with Olive trees, which give name 
to the mountain itself. To the west of us, 
about one mile, you have a fine view of the 
splendid city of Jerusalem — once splendid, I 
mean, when the temple of God was in its glor- 
ry, and when the tribes of Israel went up there 



LeC I.] GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. 39 



The Garden described. 



to worship. Between us and the city, at the 
foot of the mount, flows a small stream, called 
Kidron, or Cedron. In summer, this stream 
dries up; but in autumn, it is swelled by the 
rains, and runs southerly into the Dead Sea. 

About halfway down the mountain towards 
Jerusalem, is the celebrated Garden of Gethse- 
mane. Let us enter, and examine it. 

It is a quiet and beautiful spot, you see; and 
from it you have a good view of the city. This 
garden, it is supposed, formerly belonged to 
some wealthy man in the city. It was more 
like a grove, or plantation, than like the gar- 
dens of the present day. A recent traveller 
tells us, that there are now but nine olive trees 
in this garden. But once, it abounded with 
them, and also with other trees. In June, the 
Olive trees were wont to blossom; at which 
time, they produced an abundance of white 
flowers, rendering the spot, as a place of re- 
tirement from the noise and bustle of the city, 
inviting and delightful. 



40 GARDEN OF [LeC. I. 



Affecting story. 



There is a sad and affecting story connected 
with this garden. Let us seat ourselves, and 
I will tell it. 

In this garden, one evening, about eighteen 
hundred years ago, a small company was col- 
lected. Who were they ? and why were they 
here? 

The company consisted of Jesus Christ, 
and eleven of his disciples. He had twelve 
disciples you know ; but, on that evening, one 
of them, Judas Iscariot, was absent. I will 
presently tell you why. # 

Jesus and his little company of disciples 
had come into the garden, for the purpose of 
meditation and prayer, for it was a most sol- 
emn time with them. 
But, why so solemn % 

It was a solemn time with them, because a 
dreadful event was about to happen. Jesus 
well knew what it was. The disciples had 
only faint conceptions of it, although Jesus had 
often spoken to them about it. They saw their 



LeC. I.] GETHSEMANE. 41 



Judas turns traitor. 



master sad, and they became gloomy and sad 
also. They would have been moire sad, had 
they realised what was at that time going on in 
the city. Judas was there with the enemies 
of Christ, and was contriving with them, how 
they might seize and destroy him. At that very 
hour, they were together consulting. Judas 
was agreeing for the sum of thirty pieces of 
silver to betray his Lord and master. A Jew- 
ish piece of silver was worth about one of our 
half dollars; so you see, that for the poor pit- 
tance of fifteen dollars, Judas turned traitor, 
and betrayed the Son of God. 

Jesus knew, that evening, what this faithless 
disciple was about, for he knew all things. 
He foresaw how it would be. His enemies 
would sieze, and condemn him. They would 
do this, notwithstanding his innocence. He 
would have no one to support him — not a sin- 
gle friend near to give him an affectionate look, 
or speak a comforting word. But he would 

stand alone ; and on the following day, before 

4* 



42 garden of [Lee. L 

Jesus enters the Garden. Passover. 

the setting of the sun, he should hang on the 
cross and die. What a serious and solemn 
hour it was with him then ! For his coming 
trial and trouble, he wished to be prepared. 
He had some things to say to his disciples, 
to prepare them also for the sorrow, which 
should come upon them. He entered the gar- 
den, therefore — a spot which he had often vis- 
ited before, and which more than any other 
place was calculated to soothe his troubled 
spirit. 

But in order to understand what took place 
shortly after their entering into the garden, it 
is necessary that I should notice some events, 
which occurred the previous afternoon. 

That afternoon, he had spent with his disci- 
ples in the city. In a retired chamber, they 
had met; and there he had enjoyed a mourn- 
ful, and yet a delightful interview with them. 
It was the last which would be allowed be- 
fore his death. There they celebrated the 
Passover ; and there he washed and wiped 



LeC. I.] GETHSEMANE. 43 



Washes his disciples' feet. 



their feet, an account of which you may read 
in John xiii. 4 — 10. I scarcely know any- 
thing more affecting than this. How humble ! 
how condescending ! how affectionate ! While 
they were eating, he rose and laid aside his 
mantle. Then, he took a towel, and girded 
himself, and began to wash their feet. This 
was the appropriate business of slaves in that 
country. Oh ! how could the Son of God 
stoop so low ! Think of it. He had been ac- 
customed to the honors and homage of all 
heaven. Even Gabriel had delighted to cast 
his crown at his feet. Could this be the Son 
of God ? How different from the kings of 
this world ! What earthly monarch ever stoop- 
ed so low ! Yet, it was not too low for the 
Prince of Peace. He wished to show his dis- 
ciples how humble they should be, and how 
much love and kindness, they should show 
one another, after he was gone. 

It was a wonderful transaction; but most 
wonderful was it, that he should wash the feet 



44 GARDEN OF [Lee. I. 

Washes the feet of Judas. Peter objects. 

of Judas Iscariot ! He was with them at that 
time. He had no love for the Saviour. He 
had already made several attempts to betray 
him. He was still determined to do it. In a 
few hours, he would do it. This Jesus knew. 
Yet, he made no distinction. Ah ! this was 
wonderful humility. What the feelings of Ju- 
das were, I cannot tell ; but he made no ob- 
jection, and so hardened was he, that he pro- 
bably betrayed no guilt. 

There was one, however, that did object. 
This was Peter. When Jesus came to him, 
in strong language, and with strong feelings, 
he said, " Thou shalt never wash my feet." 
He felt that it was too humble a service for 
the Son of God. It was beneath him— so Pe- 
ter thought, until Christ explained what he 
meant by it, and then Peter was willing to be 
washed all over. 

While celebrating the Passover, another in- 
teresting scene occurred. While eating, in a 



LeC. I.] GETHSEMANE. 45 



One shall betray me ! 



solemn and yet tender manner, he told them 
that one of them should betray him. 

They started with surprise, and alarm. 
They looked round upon one another. What 
could Jesus mean? Betray him ! one of his 
own friends — his dear disciples betray him ! 
sorrow filled their hearts, and each one began 
to inquire, " Lord is it I ?' 3 Without telling 
them which one it was, he again assured them 
that one would do it. 

At this time, Simon Peter privately beckon- 
ed to John, who sat next to Jesus, to ask him, 
who it was. John leaning back upon the 
bosom of Jesus, secretly asked him the ques- 
tion. Jesus replied, that it was he, to whom 
he would give a sop, or morsel of bread, when 
he should have dipped it into sauce, which 
was used at the passover. Having thus dip- 
ped it, he gave it to Judas. At this time, no 
one knew but John himself, which of the 
disciples it was. 



46 GARDEN OF [LeC. I. 



Master, is it 1 1 



About this time, when all the others had 
made the inquiry, " Lord is it I ?" Judas him- 
self put a similar question, "Master is it I ?" 
Oh ! how could he put such a question? When 
he knew what was in his heart — when the 
very purpose was formed there to betray his 
Master, how could he assume the boldness to 
make such an inquiry ? I will tell you why he 
did. He wished to conceal his purpose. The 
other disciples had asked the question, and 
should he remain silent, it would be known, 
that he was the man. But did he not know 
that Jesus was acquainted with the heart? 
Perhaps not. At least, this was doubtless his 
hope. But he mistook. The searching eye 
of Jesus penetrated his soul; he read his 
thoughts and designs. And, now, plainly, did 
he answer the hollow question of his faithless 
disciple. " Thou hast said ;" which in the 
language of the Jews, was " Yes," — thou hast 
spoken the truth. It is so. Thou art the 
man. That Jesus well understood the inten- 



LeC. I.] GETHSEMANE. 47 

Judas retires. His plan. 

tions of Judas is certain ; for, after he had 
given him the sop, as I told you, he said to 
him, " That thou doest, do quickly." This the 
other disciples heard, but they knew not the 
meaning. They supposed that as Judas car- 
ried the provision, or travelling bag, Jesus was 
giving him directions for procuring further 
supplies of food. But Judas well understood 
from it, that his plan was known to Christ. 
He saw, also, that the other disciples would 
soon know it; and, that, unless he immediately 
went about it, he should lose the reward, which 
the Jews, from time*to time, had promised 
him. 

Upon this, Judas rose, and in wrath retired. 
He was vexed, that his purpose was known. 
Like a wicked man, he was even more deter- 
mined to effect it. He hastened, therefore, to 
meet the enemies of Jesus. He did meet 
them. He told them his plan. He agreed 
what price they should pay him. They hand- 
ed him thirty pieces of silver — fifteen dollars ! 



48 GARDEN OF [LeC. I. 



Lord's Supper. 



and for this poor, pitiful sum, he agreed to 
head the band, and deliver his Master into 
their hands. 

Soon after the departure of Judas, a most 
interesting transaction took place. Jesus 
wished that in some appropriate way, his dis- 
ciples, and all who should believe on his name, 
should remember him. He now, therefore, in- 
stituted, or founded the LorcPs Supper. This 
was done after Judas had departed, and at the 
close of the Passover. Taking some bread, 
he sought the blessing of God upon it, in a 
prayer. He then broke the bread, and, hand- 
ing a piece to each disciple, bid him eat it, tel- 
ling him that he meant it should represent his 
body, which would soon be broken, or woun- 
ded on the cross. Then, taking a cup, which 
contained some wine, he gave thanks to God ; 
and, passing it round, he told them to drink of 
it, for it was intended to represent his blood, 
which would soon be shed upon the cross for 
them, and all mankind. In conclusion, he 



Lee I.] GETHSEMANE. 49 



What a solemn scene ! 



united with them in singing a hymn of praise 
to God. 

What a solemn scene ! What a mournful, 
and yet delightful time ! what love did he feel 
for them. What communion did they hold 
with him. It was the last similar interview, 
he should have with them. He w r as about to 
leave them ; but he would not leave them com- 
fortless. They might remember him in the 
same feast, when he was gone ; and when they 
should be thus assembled, he would come un- 
to them by his Spirit, and would commune 
with them. This he would do also in respect 
to all, who should believe on his name. 

You have, perhaps, often seen the Lord's 
Supper celebrated. It is celebrated now in 
the same manner, in which Christ celebrated 
it. It has been celebrated ever since that eve- 
ning, at times, by those who have loved Jesus. 
The late Dr. Watts has composed a beautiful 
and affecting hymn, which is often sung at the 
close of the sacramental service : 



50 GARDEN OF [LeC. I. 



Do this till time shall end. 



'Twas on that dark and doleful night, 
When powers of earth and hell arose 

Against the Son of God's delight, 
And friends betrayed him to his foes : 

Before the mournful scene began, 

He took the bread, and bless'd and brake; 

What love through all his actions ran ! 
What wond'rous words of grace he spake. 

litis is my body broke for sin, 
Receive and eat the living food; 

Then took the cup and bless'd the wine ; 
5 Tis the new covenant in my blood. 

Do this (he cried) till time shall end, 
In memory of your dying friend ; 

Meet at my table and record 

The love of your departed Lord. 

While Jesus and his disciples were celebra- 
ting this supper, Jesus spoke many things to 
them, with all the affection and tenderness of 
a friend, and father. " Little children/ 5 said 
he, (John xiii. 83, &c.) "yet a little while— 



LeC. I.] GETHSEMANE. 51 

I will not deny thee. 

for a few short hours, I shall be with you, af- 
ter which I shall go from } t ou ; and, for the 
present, you cannot follow me ; but you shall 
see me again. Our separation will be but 
short. In the mean time, love one another. 
As I have loved you, tenderly, constantly, and 
unto the end, so, my disciples, do you love 
one another/ 5 

While he was thus tenderly addressing them, 
Peter expressed a wish that he might go with 
Jesus then. "Lord," said he, "why cannot I 
follow thee now, I will lay down my life for thy 
sake." Ah ! how little Peter knew of the trial, 
through which he was soon to pass. How 
little did he know of the power of temptation, 
and of the treachery of the heart. He did, in- 
deed, love Jesus most ardently. At that mo- 
ment, he would have sacrificed any thing. Je- 
sus was with him. His heart was warmed. 
His love was kindled. He felt strong. — 
" Though I should die with thee," said he, 
tf yet will I not deny thee." You feel strong, 



52 garden op [Lec. 1. 



Thou shalt deny me thrice. 



said Jesus, and your love is ardent ; but be- 
fore the cock shall crow twice, thou shalt de- 
ny me thrice. 

In the same affectionate manner, Jesus con- 
tinued his discourse. u Let not your heart be 
troubled, believe on God, believe also on me. 
In my Father's house are many mansions ; if it 
were not so, I would have told you. I do not 
deceive you. No; lam going to leave you, 
for a short season, for the purpose of prepar- 
ing a place for you. And be assured, I will 
come again, and receive you unto myself, that 
where I am, and where I dwell, you may eter- 
nally abide." John xiv. 

How comforting must these assurances have 
been to the disciples ! Jesus knew that they 
would need comfort. He knew this better 
than they could know, at this time. They un- 
derstood, after all, very imperfectly what was 
going to take place. Had they fully under- 
stood it, they would not have been able to sus- 
tain themselves. Jesus well knew this ; and, 



LeC. I.] GETHSEMANE. 53 



How tender Jesus was. 



therefore, he unfolded the subject gradually to 
them ; and, after all, told them but in part. 
And, as he conducted them along in his dis- 
course, his heart seemed to overflow with the 
purest affection for them. 

What a wonder it was, that he could so 
much forget himself! During all this time, he 
knew perfectly well, what he was about to suf- 
fer. Yet, such was his regard for his disci- 
ples, that he appeared to think little of his per- 
sonal troubles. He wished to have them pre- 
pared. He would provide for their consola- 
tion. For them and their good, he could deny 
himself — forget himself — and, even in the pros- 
pect of crucifixion, appear calm and compos- 
ed. 

Oh ! what a sweet and affectionate disposi- 
tion Jesus had. How mild he appeared ! How 
tender ! How benevolent ! Children, can you 
help loving one, who was so full of love, and 
was so amiable and lovely ? How can you 
help going to him in prayer, and telling him, 
5* 



54 GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. [LeC. I. 



Will you not sing his praises 1 



that you do, and will love him better than fath- 
er, or mother, or brother, or sister. And will 
you not, if you can sing — will you not sing his 
praises ? I hope what I write for your benefit 
will prompt you to sing the two following ver- 
ses in the spirit of little Christians : 

Now be my heart inspir'd to sing 
The glories of my Saviour King, 
Jesus the Lord ; how heavenly fair 
His form ! How bright his beauties are ! 

O'er all the sons of human race, 
He shines with a superior grace : 
Love from his lips divinely flows ; 
And blessings all his state compose, 



LECTURE XX. 



GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. 

Contents.— Retirement of Jesus to the Mount of Olives. His prayer 
there. Observations. Enters the garden. Withdraws for prayer 
with Peter, James, and John. Manifestation of great sorrow. Heav 
iness of the disciples. Agony of Jesus. Appearance of Judas, and 
the band. Jesus taken. Observations. 

I concluded my last lecture by telling you 
how Christ instituted the Lord's Supper, and 
what he said to his disciples, while they were 
at the table. I did not tell you all he said ; 
but you can read it in' the fourteenth chapter 
of John. When he had finished his comfort- 
ing advice, he concluded by saying, " Arise, let 
us go hence." 

It was now about midnight. They had been 
together some hours ; and a delightful, and yet 
mournful time they had had. He now con- 
ducted them to the Mount of Olives; and as 



56 GARDEN OF [LeC. II. 



God always hears Jesus Christ. 



they proceeded thither, he continued to talk 
to them, and said, it is supposed, the things, 
which the apostle John has recorded in the 
fifteenth and sixteenth chapters of his epistle. 
When they had reached some part of the 
mountain, Jesus offered a prayer, which you 
can read in the seventeenth chapter of John. 
I hope my children you will read that prayer, 
and you will learn how affectionately he 
commended his disciples to his Father, in 
heaven. He prayed, that God would keep 
them, and that he would keep all, who should 
believe on his name, in all periods of the 
world. He prayed for all, who should be- 
come Christians. And, if you become Christ- 
ians, he prayed for you. And among other 
things, he prayed, that when you die, you may 
go w 7 here he is, and behold his glory. God 
always heard the prayers of Jesus Christ, and 
will grant all that he asked ; so you may be 
sure, my children, that if you become Christ- 
ians, this prayer will be answered for you ; 



LeC. II.] GETHSEMANE. 57 



Heaven. 



and should you die, even while you are young, 
Jesus will take you to himself. You will go 
to Heaven — to that bright and pleasant abode, 
where there is no sin, and no sorrow. There, 
no sun shines, nor moon ; and yet there is no 
darkness there, and no clouds, and no storms, 
nor tempests. God himself is the light of 
Heaven. There blossoms the tree of life — 
there flows forever the waters of life, from the 
throne of God. What a blessed abode must 
it be ! How beautifully does Dr. Watts de- 
scribe it : 

O'er all those wide extended plains 

Shines one eternal day ; 
There God, the sun, forever reigns, 

And scatters night away. 

No chilling winds or poisonous breath 
Can reach that healthful shore ; 

Sickness and sorrow, pain and death, 
Are feared and felt no more. 

The disciples who heard that prayer on the 



58 GARDEN OF [LeC. II. 

When shall I reach that happy place ? 

Mount of Olives must have been comforted by 
it, and it has been answered in respect to them. 
They have gone to Heaven. They are now 
actually there, and are beholding the glory of 
their blessed Master. Jesus prayed that they 
might behold it, and they do behold it. And 
there are thousands of others, who have be- 
come Christians, who are beholding it also, 
and in answer to this prayer of our Lord Je- 
sus. And among them, there are doubtless 
many children like yourselves. And have you 
no wish to join them? Are you not willing 
to forsake sin, and love and serve Christ, that 
you may one day become the delighted inhab- 
itants of that pure and happy abode ? Me- 
thinks I almost hear you break forth into a 
song of inquiry : 

When shall I reach that happy place, 

And be forever blest % 
When shall I see my Father's face, 
And in his bosom rest ? 



LeC. II.] GETHSEMANE. 59 

Sit down while I go and pray yonder. 



When Jesus had ended this prayer, about 
which I have told you, he led his disciples in- 
to the Garden of Gethsemane, and here a 
scene took place, the like of which was never 
seen in this world. 

I have told you that Christ came to suffer 
in the room of mankind. They were all con- 
demned to eternal misery. Jesus offered to 
suffer and die, so that God might pardon, and 
save all, who would believe on his name — who 
would repent of their sins, and live holy and 
obedient lives. 

Jesus did suffer and die on the cross, and 
it was there especially that he atoned for sin. 
But he also suffered through his whole life, 
and especially in the Garden of Gethsemane ; 
about this I will now tell you. On reaching 
the Garden, he told his disciples to sit down, 
while he should go a short distance, for the 
purpose of prayer. He requested three of 
his disciples, Peter, James and John to ac- 
company him. These three were peculiarly 



60 GARDEN OF [LeC. II. 

Jesus in his glory. In his sorrow. 

dear to him. He loved all his disciples, but in 
several instances he had shown these three 
peculiar favor. I will mention a single in- 
stance, viz : his transfiguration on the Mount, 
(Mat. xvii.) at which time, he underwent a 
surprisingly glorious change, and perhaps ap- 
peared as he does now, exalted on the right 
hand of the throne of God. These three dis- 
ciples were with him at that time, and there 
they saw all this glory, and they saw, too, 
Moses and Elias, who had come down from 
Heaven, to talk with him. What they said, I 
do not know ; nor do I know that the disci- 
ples heard what was said — but they saw such 
glory, as astonished and overwhelmed them. 

And, now, as these disciples had seen Jesus 
in his glory, he took them with him, to behold 
his sorrow. And such sorrow, my children, 
was never before known, and never will be ; 
no one can describe it, and no one can con- 
ceive of it, as it was. I will tell you however, 
about it, as well as I can, taking the account 
given us by the Evangelists, as my guide. 



LeC. II.] GETHSEMANE. 61 



Christ exceedingly sorrowful. 



I said Jesus took Peter, James and John 
with him. They proceeded a short distance 
from the other disciples ; when, upon a sud- 
den, Jesus began to be exceeding sorrowful, 
so much so, that he told them, he was almost 
ready to die. What a sudden change there 
was in his appearance ! At the supper table, 
and until he came into the garden, how calm ! 
how fortified ! When comforting his disciples, 
he had forgot himself, he felt so much for 
them; but, now, how pressed down — in what 
an agony he appears. " My soul," said he, 
P is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." 

He requested them to w^ait where they were, 
and to keep watch, while he should go a short 
distance, and pour out his soul in prayer. 
Having proceeded about a stone's throw, he 
kneeled down and began to pray — soon after, 
in the depth of his sorrow, he fell upon his face, 
and begged of God, his Father, that if it was 
consistent, he might be spared the approach- 
ing hour of agony and the pains of crucifixion, 
6 



62 garden of [Lee. II. 

Trays for deliverance. Resignation. 



It is right, if possible, and consistent, to avoid 
suffering ; and it was right in Jesus to wish 
to be saved from the sorrow, pain, and suffer- 
ing, which were coming upon him. He wish- 
ed it, if mankind could be saved without it. 
But, still, he was humble, and resigned. He 
was desirous that God should do just as he 
pleased: "Not my will," said he, " but thine 
be done." 

Such was his prayer — such his resignation. 
He knew that whatever God decided was 
right, and for the best. And not for a single 
moment, did he wish it otherwise. Were it 
consistent, he could wish that the cup of suf- 
fering before him might pass away; yet he 
could drink it to its lowest dregs. He would 
shun no trial — avoid no suffering. His love 
of souls would carry him through, He might, 
indeed, die in the conflict — he might suffer as 
no mortal suffered — as no other man could 
suffer — that he expected. For all this he was 
prepared, if it were God's will. 



LeC. II.] GETHSEMANE. 63 

Disciples asleep. 

Such was his prayer — such his perfect re- 
signation. 

He now returned to his disciples — to the 
three whom he had selected to accompany 
him, and watch with him. But what a mar- 
vellous sight did he see ! — these disciples were 
asleep ! Who could have believed it ? What ! 
sleep, when their Master was so pressed with 
sorrow ! — sleep ! with such a scene before 
them ! Our Saviour at first expressed appar- 
ent surprise himself. " What !" said he to Pe- 
ter, "could ye not watch with me one hour]" 

But our Saviour understood full well the real 
fact. And his love and tenderness made for 
them a full apology. " The spirit," said he, 
" is willing, but the flesh is weak.' 7 Their sleep 
was no evidence of their indifference — it be- 
trayed no want of affection for Christ. Look 
at it. It was now sometime past midnight. 
Their feelings had been greatly excited. For 
hours, the sorrows of their souls had been in 
exercise, in view of some strange and unwel- 



64 GARDEN OF [LeC. II. 

Necessary that Christ should suffer. 

come event, which they foresaw was to come 
to pass. Their strength was exhausted, they 
sunk down, therefore, under their grief and 
weariness; and, in this state, Jesus found 
them on his return. 

Again he left them, and again sought relief 
in prayer. He prayed with still more earnest- 
ness, that the cup of sorrow might pass from 
him. This he repeated a third time. But it 
was not the will of God. It was necessary 
that he should suffer, or mankind could not 
be saved. Much as his Father loved him — 
willing as he was to exempt his only begotten 
and well-beloved Son from a scene so truly 
awful — that might not be. On the contrary, 
sorrow now came over him like the waves of 
the sea. The Father himself seems to have 
forsaken him. It was the hour of Satan's as- 
sault. With the Prince of darkness, in some 
mysterious manner,, he had now a conflict, in 
which his sufferings were so awful and ex- 
treme, that the blood started through the 



LeC. II.] GETHSEMANE. 65 

Agony. 

pores of his body. Mingling with the sweat, 
it fell in great drops to the ground. Oh ! 
what agony was that ! What sorrow was ever 
like unto this sorrow ! Under the pressure of 
it, he was nearty ready to yield. It was be- 
yond the power of nature to endure. At this 
awful crisis, an angel from above was sent 
to his relief. In what way that angel strength- 
ened him, I cannot say. Probably he told him, 
that the hour of conflict was almost past — a 
little longer — only a little longer, and the ago- 
ny would be over — the cloud upon his soul 
would roll away — the Father would again 
smile; and, though he would go, and must 
go, to the cross, the victory w r ould, in fact, 
have been achieved ; — the empire of darkness 
would have received a blow, which it would 
never recover, and joy would begin, w r hich 
should never end. 

But you will ask, perhaps, still more partic- 
ularly what threw Jesus into such an agony % 
Was he afraid of death? Did lie tremble to 
6* 



66 garden of [Lec. II. 



Why dirt he suffer such agony ? 



die on the cross. Oh ! no, this was not the 
cause of his deep distress. Thousands have 
died on the cross — have been racked by the 
torture — have weltered in flames, and yet 
have shown no fear, and no misgiving. No, 
it was not fear, which brought forth drops of 
blood upon the body of Jesus, but it was ago- 
ny, and that agony was doubtless connected 
with his atoning for sin. Many good men have 
given it as their opinion, that the sufferings of 
Christ in the garden were as great, if not 
greater, than those he endured on the cross. 
This is probably correct. He seems to have 
been forsaken of the Father. He had proba- 
bly now an awful sense of the wrath of God 
against sin. He travailed alone, as it were,, 
under the pressure of a world of guilt. Sa- 
tan, too, might have presented images of hor- 
ror and despair, and might have infused doubts, 
whether he would be able to accomplish the 
work, which he had undertaken. 

I do not know that I have assigned the true 



LeC. II.] GETHSEMANE. 67 



Judas makes his appearance. 



cause of these awful sufferings of Jesus in 
the garden. But there was a cause, and one 
which filled him with agony, amazement, and 
horror. But, at length, the hour passed by ; 
and again he appeared as calm and fortified, as 
usual. ' He returned to his disciples, whom he 
again found sleeping ; but whom he awoke, 
and to whom he announced the distressing 
tidings, that his betrayer was at hand. 

It was even so. And, yet, could it be so ? 
i — a friend become a traitor? All this was 
true. At this instant, a band of men and offi- 
cers presented themselves before Jesus and his 
disciples. At their head was Judas himself. 
A mixed multitude accompanied them. They 
were armed with swords and clubs. They 
carried lanterns and torches. It was, indeed, 
the time of the full moon, (for at the time of 
the full moon only, was the Passover celebra- 
ted) — but it was probably cloudy, and the gar- 
den was so full of shade trees, as to render 
lights necessary to distinguish objects, with 



68 GARDEN OF [LeC. II. 



Hail Master! 



certainty. But what an aspect did these 
torches give to the excited mob ! How sav- 
age and murderous did they look ! 

As they came within sight of Jesus, they 
stopped. He now advanced, and inquired, 
whom they sought. They answered " Jesus 
of Nazareth." He replied. " I am he.'' While 
saying this, a divine dignity sat upon his coun- 
tenance, and, for a moment, a ray of his origi- 
nal glory might have darted upon them. The 
multitude were awe struck, and in their haste 
to retreat from before the majesty and dignity, 
which, for the moment he assumed, they fell 
to the ground. 

But it was not thus with Judas, his faithless 
disciple. Bent on his purpose, he now ap- 
proached Jesus, and kissing him said, "Hail 
Master !" 

How could Jesus suffer him to do it. He 
knew his object ; he knew his heart. He 
knew that he had told the band of officers and 
men, that he would betray him to them, by 



Lr€C. II.] GETHSEMANE. 69 



Why art thou come ? 



saluting him as a " friend." With this knowl- 
edge, how could Jesus submit to such indig- 
nity, and hold his peace, in view of such 
treachery? He had power — all power — he 
had brought back the lifeless body from the 
grave, and summoned the departed spirit from 
the invisible world — he had said to the tem- 
pest, and to the raging billows of the ocean, 
" Peace, be still." The same power was his 
now. In a single moment, had he put forth 
that power, his enemies would have withered 
before him, as flax would have been consumed, 
in the furnace of Nebuchadnezzar. But that 
power was not exerted — no, nor did an unholy 
indignation, for a moment, rise in his breast. 
He treated the apostate Judas with tenderness, 
and even, at that moment, appeared to wish 
that he might solemnly think, what he was 
about. " Friend," said he, " wherefore art 
thou come?" You profess friendship for me 
— what are you about?- — think, Judas what 
you are doing ! 



70 GARDEN OF [LeC. II. 



Christ seized. 



The multitude again gathered courage. At 
the time they went back, and fell to the ground, 
quite probably they feared that the power of 
Jesus, which they must have known he pos- 
sessed, would be manifested in some signal 
way, against them. And how well it might 
have been! How could Jesus restrain him- 
self. But he did : and, emboldened by his 
meek and submissive appearance, they pres- 
sed forward, and took him. 

Thus, at last, was the Son of God a pris- 
oner, in the hands of men. Thus, he was 
seized, as a violater of the laws, and an enemy 
of his country ; whereas, he was the great 
friend of the world. What must angels have 
thought, if they were witnesses of this scene ! 
What must have been the power of Jesus over 
himself ! What forbearance ! What self con- 
trol ! And more than this, what must have 
been his benevolence and love, which could 
carry him so meekly and yet so triumphantly, 
through such insult and abuse ! 



LeC. II.] GET1ISE31ANE. 71 



Wished no defence. 



His disciples were good men — they were ac- 
tuated by the pure principles of their Master — 
but those principles exerted not such a degree 
of influence over them, as they did over him. 
They felt indignant. They were anxious to res- 
cue their Master, and, in his attachment, and 
under the excitement of his feelings, Peter drew 
a sword, and striking a servant of the High 
Priest, smote off his ear. This was doubtless 
a rash act. Jesus told him to sheathe his sword, 
and attempt no defence. Had he needed 
power, his Father would have imparted it — 
had his deliverance been expedient, twelve le- 
gions of angels, or more than seventy thou- 
sand, would in a moment, have clustered round 
him, and shielded him from his foes. 

But it was not best. No ; for, then, the 
Scripture could not have been fufilled, u That 
thus it must be." Jesus knew this, and he 
wished it not. Sin could not have been par- 
doned. The curse could not have been re- 
moved. The gates of Heaven would have 



72 GARDEN OF [LeC. II. 



Asked no deliverance. 



remained barred forever, and not a single rebel 
would have been ransomed, by redeeming 
blood. 

All this Jesus well knew, and therefore "for 
the joy set before him," he asked no deliver- 
ance. No, he had -already drunk the bitterest 
cup of sorrow. He had waded through bil- 
lows, which would rise no higher. In one 
conflict with the powers of darkness, he had 
already triumphed. What remained, he could 
surmount. He therefore bid his disciples 
be quiet, and suffer the purposes of infinite 
love and mercy to meet their accomplishment. 

When you are older, children, you will bet- 
ter comprehend this subject. You will cease 
to wonder, why Christians rejoice so much in 
the sufferings of the Son of God. But let 
me tell you, it will take a whole eternity to 
understand the "height and depth, the length 
and breadth" of the patience and love of 
Jesus. 

And I am sure, if you ever reach Heaven, 



LeC. II.] GETHSEMANE. 73 



Children should praise Jesus now. 



and see Jesus, and think, as you will think, 
what he endured for you, you will sing the 
sweetest song you are able ; you will wish to 
sing still sweeter ; and you will pay him all 
the honor you can; and, after all, you will 
think it not half enough. But why not begin 
this song now ? Why not lay your honors at 
his feet, young as you are. Jesus will accept 
your praise, and accept your homage. Begin 
then now. 

I would begin the music here ; 

And so my soul should rise : 
Oh, for some heavenly notes, to bear 

My passions to the skies ! 

There ye, that love my Saviour, sit ; 

There I would fain have place, 
Among your thrones, or at your feet, 

So 1 might see his face. 



LECTURE £11. 



THE TRIAL OF JESUS CHRIST. 



Contents. — Flight of the disciples. Caiaphas. Sanhedrim. Jesus 
arraigned before the council. Attempt to make Jesus convict him- 
self. Trial. Condemnation. Design of bringing him before a Ro- 
man tribunal. Insults previously offered to him. His patience and 
humility. Brought before Pilate. Sent by Pilate to Herod. Return 
to Pilate, who attempts to release him. Dream of Pilate's wife. 
Clamor of the Jews. Decision of Pilate. Jesus scourged. 



Jesus was now in the power of his ene- 
mies. He was in their power, and without a 
friend at hand, in whom he could confide. 
But how so ? Where were his disciples ? 

Ah, that indeed ! Only a few hours before, 
how courageous they were ! How full of af- 
fection ! They would never forsake him — 
certainly never deny him. And they did love 
him, and they were sincere in all that they said, 
and they verily believed, that they were pre- 
pared for any trial ? which might come upon 



LeC. III.] TRIAL OF JESUS CHRIST. 75 

Disciples flee. Jesus bound. 

them. But they did not know themselves. 
They knew not the weakness of poor human 
nature. The very first appearance of danger 
alarmed them, and they fled. Not even the 
intrepid Peter had the courage to abide with 
his Master. It is easy to have courage, when 
there is no danger; but the true test of cour- 
age is to meet it, when it comes. 

Having taken Jesus, as I said, the officers 
bound him. They wished to make sure of 
him. But bonds were needless. He had no 
design to escape. Submissive to the will of 
his Father, who, for wise purposes had deliv- 
ered him into their hands, he went " as a lamb 
to the slaughter, and as a sheep is dumb 
before her shearers, so he opened not his 
mouth. " 

At first, they led him to the house of Annas. 
He was an old man, and had been a long time, 
in former years, High Priest. This was an 
office of great honor. It belonged to the 
High Priest, among other duties, to preside 



76 trial of [Lec. III. 



Jesus before the Council. 



over the worship of the temple, and the great 
council, called the Sanhedrim. Annas had 
had five sons, who had enjoyed this office, and 
Caiaphas, who was that year High Priest, 
was his son-in-law. In conducting Jesus to 
Annas first, they doubtless intended to pay 
him respect ; and, at the same time, secure 
his influence. 

Next, they led him to the palace of Caiaphas 
himself, where the great council of the nation 
had been called together, to determine what 
should be done with Jesus, should he be taken. 
This council was called the Sanhedrim. It 
was composed of seventy-two members, who 
consisted of Chief Priests, Elders, and Scribes. 
The High Priest was President of this coun- 
cil. The Chief Priests were those, who had 
been High Priests. The Elders were the 
Princes of the twelve tribes. The Scribes 
were the learned men of the nation. 

Before this council, Jesus was brought. 
They held their meeting in the Hall, in the 



Lee. III.] jesus christ. 77 



Trial begun. 



centre of the palace. Here, they entered 
upon his trial — but it was without order, and 
against common justice. False witnesses 
were brought forward, who were bribed to tes- 
tify to things, which they pretended Jesus had 
said and done contrary to the laws of the nation 
and blasphemous against God. But the wit- 
nesses did not agree. It was hence manifest, 
that they did not speak the truth ; and that 
their only object was to condemn him. Their 
accusations amounted to nothing. 

This was as plain to themselves, as it was 
to Jesus. And well did he know, that they 
had scarcely a show of reason to condemn 
him. For a time, he said nothing. He did 
not even attempt to show them how fully he 
saw through their wickedness, and artifice. 

At length, the High Priest attempted to make 
Jesus convict himself. This he did, by say- 
ing to him, " I adjure thee, by the living God, 
that thou tell us, whether thou be the Christ, 
the Son of God." What a question! Jesus 
7# 



78 trial of [Lec. Ill 



Trial continued. 



himself was on his trial, and here he is put 
under oath to testify against himself. M I ad- 
jure thee, by the living God," was the usual 
form of putting an oath among the Jews. 
They had no right to put this question. If 
Jesus should answer that he was the Son of 
God, they stood ready to condemn him, for 
blasphemy. If he denied it, they would con- 
demn him as an impostor. Jesus well under- 
stood their object, and he might justly have 
declined answering the question. But, as he 
was innocent, he had nothing himself to fear. 
And he had no secrets, which he wished to 
conceal. He replied, therefore, that in respect 
to his doctrines, he had openly taught them to 
the world. The people have heard me. 
They know what I have said. Why ask me 
then ? Why attempt to make a prisoner con- 
demn himself? Go to the people, who heard 
me; bring them forward and let them testify; 
" behold they know what I have said." 

At the moment of concluding these words 



Lee. III.] jesus christ. 79 



Jesus insulted. 



an officer, who stood near, struck Jesus with 
the palm of his hand. He pretended that the 
answer of Christ was disrespectful to the 
High Priest. But it was not so intended, nor 
had it the least appearance of disrespect. 
The blow given Jesus was therefore a gross 
violation of the rights of Jesus, as a prisoner, 
under trial. He ought to have been under 
the protection of the court, and had a right 
to demand, that every measure taken against 
him should be strictly legal. To the officer, 
who struck him, he turned, and said : " In my 
answer to the High Priest, if I spoke evil — if 
I said any thing improper, let it be proved and 
punish me according to lav: ; but if I said 
nothing improper, why do you smite me !" 
Jesus was willing to be reviled and persecu- 
ted — he could bear insult and abuse, with 
perfect meekness; and it was not because 
he indulged any unholy, or unkind feelings 
towards his persecutors, that he demanded 
justice ; but only that he might show them 



80 trial of [Lec. III. 

Confession of Jesus. 



how contrary to all justice and propriety, they 
were conducting his trial. 

"I adjure thee, by the living God," said 
Caiaphas to Jesus — I put you upon your oath : 
" Are you the Son of God V 9 If I tell you 
said Jesus, you would not let me go. Your 
object is to condemn me. But, nevertheless, 
I will answer the question. " Thou hast said," 
— you have spoken the truth. I am the Son 
of God. And, hereafter, you will see the 
proof of it. You shall see the Son of man 
on the right hand of power. He will occupy 
the throne of God ; and you shall see him 
coming in the clouds of Heaven. By this 
last declaration, Jesus intended to convey to 
the council, what he had before intimated to 
his disciples, that he would come to desrtoy 
their city, and in the end to judge the world. 

This confession of Christ was enough. It 
was just what his enemies wanted. The 
High Priest immediately rent his clothes. 
This, among the Jews, was commonly a to- 



LeC. III.] JESUS CHRIST. 81 



Condemned. 



ken of grief. It is not meant that he tore the 
robes of his priestly office, for this was for- 
bidden, (Ley. x. 6 ; xxi. 10.) But he tore 
some part of his ordinary garment. He af- 
fected to feel great grief. He pronounced the 
declaration of Jesus blasphemy, and decided 
that further evidence was unnecessary. They 
would not admit, that he was the Son of God, 
but an impostor. 

Now turning to the council, he put the ques- 
tion, " What think ye ?" This was the usual 
form of asking their opinion, whether a crimi- 
nal deserved death or not. 

They unanimously replied, " He is guilty of 
death." Thus the Son of God, with scarcely 
the form of a trial — with no other evidence, 
than his own innocent and true declaration, 
was adjudged worthy of death. 

But, by what law did the council condemn 
him ? By a law, which you will find in Lev. 
xxiv. 16. "He that blasphemeth the name of 
the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and 



82 trial of [Lee. III. 



Contrivance of his enemies. 



all the congregation shall certainly stone him." 
Under pretence of having broken this law, 
Jesus was condemned. But by this law, he 
should have been stoned to death, had he been 
guilty. 

But they were afraid to stone him. Should 
he be put to death in this manner, all the con- 
gregation, the people, must be assembled. 
This would not answer their purpose. Many 
of the people admitted the claims of Jesus. 
They would not stone him, nor suffer others 
to do it. It would produce tumult and confu- 
sion, and the purpose of the rulers would be 
defeated. 

But there was another expedient. They 
might, perhaps, bring him before a Roman tri- 
bunal, for some civil offence ; and could they 
procure his condemnation there, few only 
would know it. Popular excitement would 
be prevented, and still their purpose, viz : his 
death, would be accomplished. 

Previously, however, to bringing him before 



Lee. III.] jesus christ. 83 

Insulted. Patience and humility. 

a Roman tribunal, as they now agreed, they 
wished to show him all the indignity in their 
power. Hence, no sooner was he condemned 
by the council, than some began to spit in his 
face ; some buffeted him ; that is struck him 
with their fists ; and others smote him with the 
palms of their hands, Mark says, that they 
blindfolded him, and then said unto him, 
u Prophesy unto us, or reveal, thou Christ, 
who it is that smote thee." 

But Jesus answered them not. He made 
no resistance. The " captain of salvation " 
was to be made " perfect through suffering." 
He submitted, therefore, to the cruelties and 
insults of his enemies, without a murmur. 
Oh ! how patient he was. What an example 
of endurance did he set us ! Let us imitate 
him, who, when he was reviled, reviled not 
again but submitted himself to the will of 
God, in full confidence that he would enable 
him to endure unto the end. And God will 
enable us to follow that example, in the hour 



S4 trial of [Lec. III. 



We should be like Jesus. 



of temptation and insult, if we put our trust 
in him. It is easy to be kind to friends — but 
to love enemies— to pray for them sincerely — - 
to do them good from the heart, this is an im- 
portant lesson, which we should endeavor to 
learn. Jesus did all this, with a perfect heart. 
There was no offence, which he could not 
forgive — no insult, which he could not over- 
look. He had enjoined it upon his disciples, 
" Love your enemies," and he himself set the 
example. And even when expiring on the 
cross, as we shall soon see, he could direct 
his prayer to Heaven for his enemies : " Fa- 
ther forgive them, for they know not what 
they do." In this, the character of Jesus 
shone forth with surpassing glory. We shall 
never attain to that fulness of moral excellen- 
cy, which he possessed — we may never be 
able to do as he did, but we may do like him ; 
and if we ever reach that world where he 
dwells, we shall be like him ; for we shall then 
see him as he is. 



Lee. III.] jesus christ. 85 



Jesus before Pilate. 



When the morning came, the Chief Priests 
and Elders consulted what they should do, to 
procure the death of Christ. The council had 
condemned him to death for blasphemy ; but 
they feared, as I said, to carry this sentence 
into execution. It was proposed, therefore, 
to accuse him before the Roman governor. 
But of what crime should they accuse him? 
Of blasphemy ? This was no breach of any 
Roman law. This would not do. It was 
agreed, therefore, to accuse him of a design 
to dethrone Tiberius Caesar, who was at that 
time emperor of Rome, and to assume the gov- 
ernment himself. 

With this design, they now conducted Je- 
sus to Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea. 
When they had reached the Judgment hall, 
a place in the governor's palace, where justice 
was administered, and injustice often done, they 
began to accuse him, saying, u We found this 
fellow perverting or destroying the nation, and 
forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying, 



86 trial of [Lec. III. 



Jesus before Herod. 



that he himself is Christ, a king." This ac- 
cusation, they probably thought would be 
enough, and they hoped that Pilate would con- 
demn him, without a trial. When Pilate heard 
that he was a Galilean, he sent him to Herod, 
who reigned over Galilee, a province which 
lay to the north of Judea, beyond Samaria. 
Herod happened at this time to be in Jerusa- 
lem. He was exceeding glad of an opportuni- 
ty to see Jesus, having heard many wonderful 
accounts about him, and hoping to see a mira- 
cle wrought by him. Before Herod, the Jews 
began to accuse him, and Herod asked him 
many questions ; but Jesus answered none of 
them. He knew that Herod had no right to 
judge in the case. This probably exasperated 
Herod, who, with his guard of soldiers, now 
attempted to mock and ridicule him. For 
this purpose, they put on him a gorgeous 
robe, probably some old robe, which Herod 
had formerly worn, and which was designed 
to pour contempt upon his pretending to be a 



Lee. III.] jesus christ. 87 



Pilate and Herod become friends. 



king. Thus arrayed, Herod sent him back to 
Pilate, to dispose of him as he pleased. 

Here we may notice a singular circum- 
stance. On that day, and from that occasion, 
Herod and Pilate, who had been bitter ene- 
mies, became warm friends. The cause of 
their enmity, I do not know ; but Herod was 
pleased, that Pilate sent Jesus to him; and 
both, now forgetting their former hatred of 
each other, united in ridiculing and persecut- 
ing the Son of God. 

Jesus having been brought back to the 
Judgment hall, Pilate told his accusers to take 
him, and try him according to their own law. 
They replied, that they had done so ; and as 
a malefactor, he was worthy of death. But 
they wished the governor's sanction of what 
they had done. 

Upon this, Pilate took Jesus aside, and put 
the question to him, " Are you the king of the 
Jews '?" Jesus replied, " My kingdom is not 
of this world. The kingdoms of this world 



88 trial of [Lec. III. 

I am a king. 

are defended by arms. If my kingdom was 
of this world, my supporters would have 
fought for me. I should, with their assistance, 
have defended myself. I should not have suf- 
fered myself to have been taken by the Jews. 
But my kingdom bears no likeness to the 
kingdoms of the present world. v 

" Are you a king then V Pilate again in- 
quired. 

" I will not hesitate to answer the inquiry," 
said Jesus. "lama king. To this end I was 
born, that I might present truth to men, and 
exercise dominion over the hearts of men/ 5 
By this he meant to assure Pilate, that he had 
no designs against the Roman government. 
He was no usurper. He was no earthly gen- 
eral. He collected no armies — led forth none 
to battle and conquest. But he was a preach- 
er of truth. He was a king over a spiritual 
kingdom. 

This explanation satisfied Pilate. He was 
convinced that the charge of the Jews was 



Lee. III.] jesus christ. 89 



I find no fault in him. 



groundless. Jesus made no pretensions to 
worldly power. Rome and its emperor had 
nothing* to fear. He looked upon Jesus as a 
poor deluded man, and evidently regarded him 
with contempt. 

Pilate now went out unto the Jews, who all 
this time had not themselves entered into the 
Judgment hall, for as they were about to eat 
the Passover, they thought they should be 
polluted by entering into a heathen court of 
justice,— Pilate, I say, went out to them, and 
told them plainly, " That he could find no fault 
at all in him. 7 ' He saw no evidence to sup- 
port their charge. He believed him to be an 
innocent man. And not only innocent, but 
too uninfluential to endanger the state. He was 
willing therefore to release him. And besides, 
he knew that the opposition of the Chief 
Priests arose from envy. They were afraid of 
his popularity. They were afraid that the 
people would love and respect him, more than 
they did them. Knowing this, Pilate ought 
8* 



90 trial of [Lec. III. 

Message of Pilate's wife. 

to have released him, notwithstanding their 
opposition. 

While Pilate was sitting on the judgment 
seat, his wife sent a remarkable message to 
him. Whether she was secretly an admirer 
of Christ, I cannot say — she might possibly 
have believed in him, as the true Messiah. 
At least, she believed him innocent ; and she 
felt a strong desire, that her husband should 
have no concern in the case. Such had been 
her anxiety, knowing what was intended 
against Jesus, that she had been troubled in a 
dream, on account of it. Probably she feared 
the judgments of God upon her family, if Jesus 
should be condemned. She therefore sent an 
urgent request, that Pilate would release him. 

It must here be mentioned, that it was a 
custom, whenever the yearly Passover was cel- 
ebrated among the Jews, for the Roman gov- 
ernor to release unto them some Jew, who 
was held prisoner for a crime. The origin 
of this custom is unknown ; but so the cus- 



Lee. HI.] jesus christ. 91 



Barabbas. Crucify him. 



torn was, and the people had a right to ask the 
release of any person whom they pleased. 
At this time, there was a distinguished pris- 
oner, by the name of Barabbas. He was 
distinguished for having made a disturbance 
in the city, during which, he had committed 
murder. Some suppose that he was by pro- 
fession a robber. 

During the trial of Jesus, Pilate, hoping 
that the Jews would prefer the release of Je- 
sus to the vile and abandoned Barabbas, in- 
quired of them, which of the two, according to 
custom, he should release. 

Left to themselves, the multitude, who had 
a right to choose, would, perhaps, have pre- 
ferred Jesus ; but, instigated by the Chief 
Priests and Elders they clamorously demanded 
the release of Barabbas. "What, then," ask- 
ed Pilate, "shall I do with Jesus V They 
cried out, " Crucify him, crucify him." Pi- 
late was still unwilling. He was more and 
more convinced, that Jesus was an innocent, 



92 tuial of [Lec. III. 



Pilate yields. 



and injured man. He inquired, therefore, 
" Why, what evil hath he done?" This he 
repeated three several times. And, again, he 
assured them, that he could find no sufficient 
cause of death in him. " I will, therefore, 
chastise him and let him go." 

But, now, the voices of the multitude were 
Soud and clamorous. They demanded in 
tones of authority, that Jesus should be cruci- 
fied. Ah ! had Pilate been the man of decis- 
ion, which he ought to have been—had he had 
the firmness to follow the convictions of his 
conscience, such injustice would not have tak- 
en place — Jesus would have been spared, and- 
Barabbas would have met his merited fate. 

But Pilate was a lover of popularity. Like 
an ambitious man, he was ready to sacrifice 
his principles to the maintainance of his 
worldly honor. He yielded, when he should 
have been firm; he^ sacrificed the innocent, 
when he should have punished the guilty. 

Having, at length, yielded the point, Pilate 






Lee. HI.] jesus christ. 93 



His blood be on us. 



took water, and washed his hands, in the pre- 
sence of the multitude, saying, " I am inno- 
cent of the blood of this just person." Was 
he innocent ? And could water wash away 
thy guilt, Pilate ? Couldst thou thus free thy- 
self from crime ? No. 

No bleeding bird, nor bleeding beast, 
Nor hyssop branch, nor sprinkling priest, 
Nor running brook, nor flood, nor sea, 
Could wash thy dismal stain away. 

" / am innocent," said Pilate; " see ye to 
it." Then shouted the multitude, "His blood 
be on us, and on our children." What a fear- 
ful imprecation ! Let the guilt of his death be 
upon us, and upon our children. We will 
bear the punishment of it. What a load did 
they take upon themselves ! And, at length, 
that load came. In less than forty years, the 
signal judgments of God came upon them for 
rejecting the Son of God. A Roman army, 
under the emperor Vespasian, and his son 



94 trial of [Lee. III. 



Jerusalem a heap of ruins. 



Titus, beseiged their city. The flames kin- 
dled upon their dwellings — their palaces fell 
to ashes, and their idolized temple smouldered 
in ruins. Famine slew its thousands ; pesti- 
lence rioted through their streets. More than 
a million of inhabitants perished, and their 
blood ran in currents, like water. Thousands 
were crucified, in the same manner, in which 
they had crucified the Lord of life and glory. 
So great was the number of those that suf- 
fered, in this manner, that Josephus says, 
" they were, at length, obliged to cease from 
it, room being wanting for the crosses, and 
crosses for the men. r And since Jerusalem 
was made a heap of ruins, what judgments 
have followed this people, accursed of God. 
They have been separated and divided, among 
the nations. They have drank of the cup of. 
affliction, in every form ; they are still drink- 
ing it; they are a hissing and a by-word 
among men. One day, their state may be 
changed — one day, but when that day w 7 ill 



Lee. III.] jesus christ. 95 

Barabbas released. Jesus condemned. 

come, I cannot tell — they may exclaim in the 
streets of Jerusalem, in those very streets, 
where they once cried, " Away with him, 
away with him, crucify him, crucify him," 
they may exclaim with admiration and joy, 
H Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the 
name of the Lord." 

Their glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace, 

Thy welcome shall proclaim ; 
And heaven's eternal arches ring 

With thy beloved name. 

The decision of Pilate was now made. 
Barabbas was released, and Jesus condemned. 
He was condemned, while perfectly innocent ; 
for in every action of his life, in every thought, 
and wish of his heart, he was " holy and 
harmless." He claimed no honors, which 
were not his due ; — he was entitled to the 
homage of the world ; yet he relinquished 
them. He coveted them not. Nor did he 
seek to interfere with the rights of temporal 
princes. He wished not for their power, nor 



96 trial of [Lee. III. 



Jesus scourged. 



their wealth, nor their praises. But he might 
ask justice — but justice and humanity were 
both denied him. 

Pilate, as I said, having decided that Jesus 
should be crucified, proceeded to scourge him. 
This was a custom with the Romans, in re- 
spect to slaves, before they were bound to the 
cross ; and, as Jesus was about to suffer as a 
slave, he was treated like one. By the law of 
Moses, the number of stripes inflicted could 
not exceed forty; but the Romans inflicted 
w r hat number they pleased. The scourging 
of Jesus was so severe, that, in connection with 
his fasting and fatigue, he was unable to bear 
his cross. 

This was in some respects the most unjus- 
tifiable part of Pilate's conduct. He had de- 
clared him innocent ; wherefore, then, should 
he treat him as a malefactor? Pilate had no 
intention to fulfil the purposes of God ; but he 
was fulfilling them, and was undesignedly help- 
ing forward the redemption of the world. 
That was to him a sad and guilty hour, in 



Lee. III.] jesus christ. 97 



A dark, and yet bright day. 



which he gave sentence against the blameless 
Son of God. Well might he have wished, 
that he had never seen that day, in which he 
raised the scourge against the Prince of 
Peace. That was a dark day, in respect to 
him, and those who urged him forward to 
those acts of insult and cruelty. Yet, it was a 
bright and glorious day for a ruined world. 
That day was to bring the Son of God to the 
cross, and to give a momentary triumph to 
the powers of darkness. But death to Jesus, 
would be death to those powers, and light and 
life to a ruined race. It would be their spirit- 
ual birth-day — the dawning of immortality — 
the opening of a fountain, which would wash 
away guilt, and which would never cease to 
flow — the commencement of a song, whose 
notes would swell louder, and sound sweeter, 
while eternity should last. 

Sad and mournful, then surely as were the 
scenes, which were then acting, those who 
were " waiting for the consolation of Israel," 
9 



TRIAL OF JESUS CHRIST. [LeC. III. 

Pre pare the Lord his way. 



— those who were earnestly looking and long- 
ing for the coming of the true Messiah— all 
such, on the morning of that day might have 
sung, while in grief they poured forth their 
tears : 

Let heaven proclaim this joyful day, 

Joy through the earth be seen ; 
Let cities shine in bright array, 

And fields in cheerful green. 

Let an unusual joy surprise 

The islands of the sea, 
Ye mountains, sink ; ye vallies, rise ; 

Prepare the Lord his way. 



Behold, he comes ! he comes to bless 
The nations as their God ; 

This day, he dies upon the cross, 
And sends his love abroad. 






LECTURE XV. 



END OF JUDAS, AND DENIAL OF PETER. 

Contents. — The whole life of Jesus a life of sorrow. Treachery of 
Judas. Reason of it. His sense of guilt. Confession of the inno- 
cence of Jesus. Commits suicide. Flight of the disciples. Charac- 
ter of Peter. His conduct in the hall of the palace— in the porch — on 
his return into the hall. His denial. Bitterness of his repentance. 
Difference between good and bad men. Observations. 

Every step of the progress of Jesus to the 
cross, my children, was full of sorrow and trial. 
By his enemies he was abused, persecuted, and 
finally murdered. This was conduct, on their 
part, exceedingly heinous and cruel; yet it was 
not unexpected. He came into the world to die 
for sinners. He came " to seek, and to save 
that which was lost." He knew full well 
that he should be despised and rejected of 
men. He foresaw, in every particular, how 
the Jews would treat him, and that they would, 
at length, crucify him. Yet, in all that they 



100 END OF JUDAS AND [LeC. IV. 

Affecting incidents. 



did. they acted freely. They needed not have 
injured a hair of his head. But they had 
wicked hearts, and those hearts led them to 
treat him as they did. 

And had his trials come only from his open 
enemies, how differently would he have felt ! 
But his friends — ah ! from his friends — his 
bosom friends — his own family, some of his 
sorest earthly trials arose. By one disciple 
he was betrayed into the hands of his enemies ; 
and by another, before those enemies, and 
even in his own presence, he was openly de- 
nied. 

About these solemn and affecting incidents, 
I must tell you, before we proceed to that 
scene, which closed the eventful life of the 
Son of God. I do not tell about these, be- 
cause it imparts any pleasure to contemplate 
them. Oh ! no, my children, they are sad 
and painful incidents, in the life of this exalted 
and blessed man ; but still they may convey 
useful lessons. You will learn what poor hu- 



LeC. IV.] DENIAL OF PETER. 101 

Why Judas betrayed Jesus. 

man nature is — what little dependence is to be 
placed upon human friendships — and how of- 
ten our best resolutions are, in the hour of 
temptation, broken. 

I have already told you in part of the treach- 
ery of Judas, and that that treachery ended in 
the betraying of his Lord and Master, into the 
hands of his enemies. But that treachery had 
also an awful issue in respect to Judas him- 
self. I will tell you how it was. 

Judas betrayed Jesus, through his excessive 
love of money. He was an exceedingly ava- 
ricious man. Yet, it is not probable, that he 
expected, that his conduct would result, as it 
did. He might hope that Jesus would es- 
cape. Probably he did. He knew that Christ 
possessed the power of working miracles; 
and he might suppose that he would work a 
miracle to deliver himself. 

But when he saw him taken, bound, tried, 
and condemned — when he saw that that con 
demnation was likely to issue in his death, 
9* 



102 END OF JUDAS AND [LeC. IV. 

Confession of Judas. 



the baseness of his conduct overwhelmed him. 
The guilt of deliberate murder lay at his door ; 
and the sense of that guilt filled his soul with 
the deepest remorse. He felt shocked, and 
horror struck, as he dwelt upon the crime. 

And well he might. He had lifted his hand 
against a friend. He had sundered the ties 
of confidence, — -nay, far more than this, he 
had betrayed " innocent blood." He knew 
that Jesus was an innocent man. He had 
been with him for years— had seen him in 
public and in private- — he knew all about his 
conduct and conversation, and had there been 
any thing secretly vile, or unworthy in Christ, 
he would have known it. Yet he confessed 
— openly confessed, not that he believed him 
innocent, but that he knew him to be innocent. 
He had no doubts, and no suspicions. His 
innocence was a fact, to which he could at- 
test. 

This confession of Judas deserves to be no- 
ted and remembered. He was a bad man ; 



LeC. IV.] DENIAL OF PETER. 103 

Jesus proved to be innocent. 

*but his testimony is entitled to credit. It was 
in favor of the victim of his treachery, and 
against himself. Could it have been other- 
wise — could he even have suspected that Je- 
sus was a bad man, he would have done it. 
Children, mark it, and remember it, the vilest 
man that ever lived confessed and published 
abroad, that he knew that Jesus was innocent. 

And I will tell you how he proved the truth 
of what he said. He brought again the thirty 
pieces of silver, and returned them to the 
Chief Priests. He could not keep this money. 
It was the price of innocent blood. Its very 
appearance shocked him. Every time he saw 
it, it proclaimed his guilt. He had no peace 
till he had restored it. 

Had he peace then? No, there was no 
peace for him. But did he not repent, and 
may not one who repents be at peace ? Ju- 
das did, indeed, repent ; but it was not the 
repentance, which leads to a better life. He 
was sorry for what he had done. So may a 



104 END OF JUDAS AND [LeC. IV, 



True repentance. 



murderer be sorry, as he goes to the gal- 
lows — sorry that he committed a crime, for 
which he must be hanged ; but release him, 
and he might murder again. True repentance 
leads to reformation, A child may be sorry 
that he hurt his brother, becaruse his father 
chastises him for it — he is sorry that he has 
to suffer pain, and so he is sorry for the act, 
because he is punished for it. But he would 
not be sorry, if he might escape the correction. 
That is, he is not sorry for the act itself, for 
the wrong done, because it is sinful, but be- 
cause he must be punished for it. This is 
not sincere repentance. 

This was precisely the case with Judas. 
He suffered awful distress of mind — he was 
punished in his own inward torments of soul 
— and he probably wished that he had not so 
done — and he wished so because he was mis- 
erable on account of it — but he had no sorrow- 
ful sense of guilt — no deep regret for the wick- 
ed act, because it was wicked. 



LeC. IV.] DENIAL OF PETER. 105 

Judas hangs himself. 

"But how do you know this, sir?" per- 
haps you inquire. How do I know this ? It 
is plain, quite plain ; and I will show it to you. 
If a child has done wrong, and sincerely re- 
pents, will he the next moment do so again ? 
Will he do even worse ? No ; hy no means. 

And how did Judas act? He said, "I 
have sinned," and it is said of him, that he 
" repented himself," and that he restored the 
money, and plainly told the Chief Priests, 
that Jesus was innocent. All this was well. 
But what did he then do ? He added another 
black crime to the one he had just committed 
he hurried away from the presence of men — - 
he went out amid the darkness of the night 
and hung himself! 

Did this look like true repentance ? No, it 
was only adding one crime to another — it was 
plunging deeper, and still deeper in guilt. 

I will add only a few words as to the man- 
ner, in which Judas attempted to take his 
own life. Matthew says that he hanged him- 



106 END OF JUDAS AND [LeC. IV. 

Awful circumstances attending his death. 



self. Yet, Peter, in giving an account of the 
death of Christ, (Acts i. 18,) says, that Judas 
" falling headlong, burst asunder in the midst, 
and all his bowels gushed out." These two 
accounts have by some been supposed to be at 
variance. But it is easily shown, that there is 
no contradiction. Matthew says that he hung 
himself. No doubt he did — but the rope prov- 
ed insufficient to sustain his weight. He 
therefore fell headlong upon his face, and at 
such a distance that his bowels came out, and 
his death, was by reason of this, most horrid. 

The conduct of another of his disciples must 
have greatly added to the already poignant sor- 
row of the Son of God. One and all of them, 
indeed, acted a timid and unworthy part. 
They left him in the hour of peril, and fled. 
They did this, notwithstanding their pledge to 
abide with him, and lay down their lives for 
his sake. 

Why was this? How came it to pass? 
We are not told, but it is easy to conjecture. 



LeC. IV.] DENIAL OP PETER. 107 



Denial of Peter. 



They were suddenly, and exceedingly alarm- 
ed. The ferocious aspect of the band, which 
accompanied Judas, terrified them. They 
saw Jesus himself indeed calm, but surrender- 
ing himself into the power of his enemies, 
without resistance. Resistance he forbid. 
Why should he do this ? Had his power for- 
saken him % Could he no longer work a mi- 
racle for their salvation. For the moment, 
their faith wavered — suspicion cast a doubt, 
perhaps, over their minds, whether he was the 
true Messiah, and if not — if not, what could 
they expect, but death itself? — and they fled. 

But there was one disciple, who to weak- 
ness and unbelief, added the sin -of open denial. 
That disciple was Peter. 

The character of Peter deserves a passing 
notice. His attachment to Christ was ardent 
and sincere. Christ loved and honored him, 
in return. He was one of the three, who saw 
the glory of the Son of God, on the mount of 
transfiguration. He was one of the same 



108 END OF JUDAS AND [LeC. IV. 



Character of Peter. 



three, whom Christ selected to witness his 
agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and to 
comfort him in that most awful hour of horror 
and distress. 

Peter w r as evidently by nature a bold, ardent, 
and even rash man. Such a man is likely to be 
generous, kind-hearted, and sincere ; yet lia- 
ble to be overcome by sudden temptation. It 
was exactly so with Peter. When he told 
Christ, he would die for him, rather than deny 
him, he thought so, and felt so. He felt, as I 
told you, at that time, strong and had no more 
design of denying his Lord and Master, than 
had the other disciples. At that moment, his 
resolution might have been even stronger than 
theirs. But he fell — grievously fell. Let us 
trace the circumstances. 

Jesus, as I told you, having been seized, 
was conducted to the palace of Caiaphas, the 
High Priest. Peter followed. So far he 
showed a sincere attachment to his Master. 
But he followed at a distance — a afar off." He 
was afraid, and desirous to avoid danger. 



LeC. IV.] DENIAL OF PETER. 109 



What is duty ? 



And was this wrong ? On all proper occa- 
sions, it is right to avoid danger. We should 
not expose life, unnecessarily. But there are 
times, when duty bids us go forward, and trust 
ourselves to the disposal of Providence. Our 
question should be what is duty ? and having 
decided that, we should shun no difficulty, 
and fear no danger. God can deliver us, if 
that be his pleasure ; or, if we fall, he can take 
us to his glory. Paul thought so, and so 
thought the thousand and ten thousand mar- 
tyrs, who in after times, laid down their lives 
for the cause of Christ. Peter should have 
thought thus, and thus should he have acted. 

After some time, proceeding with great cau- 
tion, he reached the palace. Another disci- 
ple was with him. That disciple was proba- 
bly John. Peter lingered without. John had 
more courage, and went in. He was ac- 
quainted with Caiaphas, the High Priest; 
and, on this account, had less fear. Soon af- 
ter, John went out, and brought in Peter. 
10 



110 END OP JUDAS AND [LeC. IV. 

You are his disciple. 

The latter now mingled with the servants, or 
attendants, who were surrounding a fire of 
coals, for the purpose of warming themselves. 
The night was cool. It was probably not far 
from midnight. 

While standing here in the hail, which was 
a place less elevated than the tribunal, where 
the council were trying Jesus, but in plain 
sight of him, a damsel approached him, and 
apparently by accident, as it would seem, ob- 
served to him " Thou also wast with Jesus o] 
Galilee?" That is, you are one of his disci- 
ples ? The damsel had probably no evil de- 
sign in the question, but it filled Peter with ter- 
ror, and he denied, and denied before them 
all, that he was a disciple — he denied that he 
knew Jesus ; he denied that he even under- 
stood what was meant. Ah ! where was his 
courage ? Where his love to Jesus ? Where 
his regard to truth ? All fled ? Could this 
be Peter ? Could it be he, who had once ven- 
tured upon the raging waters to meet Jesus ? 



i 



LeC. IV.] DENIAL OF PETER. Ill 



Peter in the porch. 



Could it be he, who had said — solemnly said, 
that he would die with his Master, rather than 
deny him? Yes, and said this, only a few 
hours before. But it was even so. What he 
said was palpable falsehood, and he knew it 
to be so. 

Upon this, he left the hall, and went out in- 
to the porch, or entrance-way. This was a 
small apartment, between the outer door, and 
the large hall, which was in the centre of the 
building. The question of the damsel had 
distressed him, and to avoid observation, he 
retired to the porch. As he entered that, 
Mark says, the cock crew. This was not long 
after midnight, and in the early part of the tri- 
al of Jesus. Whether Peter heard the crow- 
ing of the cock, I cannot say. If he did, 
what must he have thought ? Did he recol- 
lect the prediction of the Saviour ? Perhaps 
not. Or, if he did, he hoped to escape fur- 
ther observation, and the necessity of further 
denial. 



112 END OF JUDAS AND [Lee. IV. 



A solemn oath. 



But even in the porch, he remained not long 
unobserved. Here, another damsel saw him, 
and began to say to some that stood by, w Here 
is one of his disciples.' 5 (Mark xiv. 69.) To 
this observation, Peter might have made no 
reply ; or, at the same time, a man might have 
put the question, "Thou art also one of them?" 
(Luke xxii. 58.) And again he denied his 
Master, and accompanied that denial with a 
solemn oath. 

About an hour afterwards, we find Peter 
again in the hall. The trial was still proceed- 
ing. The council Avas in plain view. Jesus 
himself was standing, where Peter could see 
him, and he, Peter. At this moment, a ser- 
vant, a kinsman of Malchus, whose ear Peter 
had cut off, approached him, and asked, " Did 
I not see thee in the garden with him 3 Sure- 
ly you are one of them, for you speak like a 
Galilean." 

Peter now felt sure that he was known. 
He felt still greater alarm, and in the despera- 
tion of the momen i he began to curse and to 



LeC. IV.] DENIAL OF PETER. 118 



A look of tenderness. 



swear, saying, " I know not the man." No 
sooner had the awful curses, and the awful 
denial proceeded from his mouth, than the 
cock crew. 

At this moment, Jesus turned his eye upon 
Peter — I dare say it was a look of tenderness 
mingled with grief— he turned his eye upon 
Peter, and at that moment his disciple caught 
the reproving glance of his Master, and he re- 
membered his prediction : " Before the cock 
crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice." The 
arrow of conviction sunk deep into his soul. 
A humbling sense of his guilt overwhelmed 
him ; he hastened forth from the palace. He 
mingled with the darkness of the night, and 
alone, and concealed, gave vent to a flood of 
tears ! 

My children, we must condemn Peter ; and 
yet, who does not pity him ? What a lament- 
able fall ! How could he be thus guilty ? 
How could he so soon forget the favors, which 
had been conferred upon him, and the solemn 



10* 



114 END OF JUDAS AND [LeC. IV. 



Peter a good man. 



promises which he had made. A single deni- 
al — one falsehood, at such a time, and under 
such circumstances, would have been awful 
guilt. What shall be said of it, when that 
denial was thrice, and was accompanied with 
cursing and swearing ! 

After all, my children, Peter was a good 
man — a true and sincere disciple of Christ. 
Do you ask how this could be ■? Attend, and 
I will endeavor to explain. 

A good man may sin. Good men do sin. 
They sin often — sometimes grievously. How 
much they may sin, and yet be real Christians, 
I cannot tell. But, then, it is not their plan nor 
purpose to sin, but directly the reverse. Their 
wish and object is, to lead a holy life — yet they 
sometimes fall into sin. But one thing always 
distinguishes the good man, when he has 
sinned — he repents — deeply, sincerely repents. 
He confesses his sins ; humbles himself, and 
firmly resolves to do so no more. Such a 
course always marks the good man, and no 



LeC. IV.] DENIAL OF PETER. 115 

True sorrow. 

man can be good, that is a true Christian, 
who does not pursue this course. 

Let Peter be tried by this rule. His sin 
was an awful one. But what did he do ? 
Some good men repent long after they have 
sinned; but Peter went out, and wept bitterly, 
as soon as he had committed the offence. It is 
plain, that his heart was filled with sorrow. I 
dare say, he would willingly have died with 
Jesus, could he by that means have restored 
himself to that state, in which he was before 
his fall. As he was pouring out his soul, 
while the tears fell fast from his manly cheek, 
alone, and amidst the darkness of the night, 
how well he might have exclaimed, and doubt- 
less, in some such manner he did exclaim : 

I cannot live without thy light, 
Cast out and banished from thy sight ; 
Thy holy joys, my God, restore, 
And guard me, that I fall no more. 

Then will I teach the world thy ways ; 
Sinners shall learn thy sovereign grace ; 



116 END OF JUDAS AND [LeC. IV. 

Difference between good and bad men. 



I'll lead them to my Saviour's blood, 
And they shall praise a pardoning God. 

And, in accordance with this, he afterwards 
acted. He became a bold and decided cham- 
pion of the cross. He wavered no more. 
His heart was fixed ; and, through life, he ex- 
erted himself to defend, and build up that 
cause, which he had dishonored. Thus he 
gave the best evidence of sincere repentance. 

Peter, it is said, died a martyr to the faith of 
Jesus, by crucifixion. And when he came to 
be crucified, he requested that he might be 
crucified with his head down, being unworthy 
to end his life, as his Lord and Master had 
done, because he once denied him. 

I must say a few words more in reference 
to the difference between good and wicked 
men— between the Christian, and the sinner. 
Both sin. This cannot be denied. But here 
lies a broad difference between them. It is 
not the settled purpose of the Christian to sira 



LeC. IV.] DENIAL OF PETER. 117 



Peter and Judas compared. 



*— of the sinner it is. The Christian sins of- 
ten — the sinner always. The Christian when 
he sins, repents— the sinner does not. The 
Christian resolves to do so no more — the sin- 
ner resolves to do so again, or perhaps even 
tvorse* 

Compare Peter and Judas. Both grievous- 
ly sinned. Peter wept bitterly over his crime, 
and showed that his repentance was sincere, 
by living after that a humble, holy, and devoted 
life. Judas repented, restored the thirty pie- 
ces of silver— but instead of proving his re- 
pentance to have been the genuine repentance 
of the gospel, he proved that it was not, by 
committing the awful crime of suicide. The re- 
pentance which is sincere, always leads to re- 
formation ; no other repentance is genuine ; 
no other is acceptable to God. It is the lan- 
guage of the true penitent, while tears of holy 
sorrow bedew his cheeks : 

Be this the purpose of my soul, 
My solemn, my determined choice, 



118 DENIAL OP PETER. [LeC. IV. 



Never faint nor tire. 



To yield to his supreme control, 
And in his kind commands rejoice. 

O may I never faint nor tire, 

Nor wandering leave his sacred ways ; 
Great God accept my soul's desire. 

And give me strength to live thy praise. 



LECTURE V. 



CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Contents.— Introductory remarks. Conduct of the soldiers towards 
Jesus. Place of crucifixion. Affecting Incident. Description of a 
cross. Manner in which Jesus was placed upon it. The malefac- 
tors. Conduct of the soldiers and the Jews, Different conduct and 
fate of the malefactors. Prayer of Jesus on the cross. Ten- 
derness towards Ins mother. Death. Sympathy of nature with 
his sufferings. Observations. 

Did you ever stand by the bed of a friend, 
in the closing moments of his life ? Did you 
see him, as he drew his last breath? Did 
you hear his dying groan? 

What a solemn sight? How sad and 
mournful you felt! But how many circum- 
stances existed, perhaps, to soften the pillow 
of death, and to render the passage of your 
friend easy to the grave. In his own quiet 
chamber he died — friends clustered around 



120 crucifixion of [Lee. V* 

A pillow of thorns. 

him — a soft hand gently administered every 
balm — wiped away the rising tear, and, when 
death came, closed the sunken eye. 

My children, it was not thus, when the Son 
of God expired. He had no pillow, but a pil- 
low of thorns — and not a friend— no, not one 
to speak a kind word, as he bowed and died. 
But let us attend to the story, in order. It is 
a mournful tale, and it will do us good ; and, 
when at length, we behold Jesus stretched on 
the cross, and groaning away his life, I hope 
each one will be able to say : 

As I survey the wondrous cross, 
On which the Prince of glory died, 

My richest gain I count but loss, 
And, mourning, weep o'er all my pride. 

Were the whole realm of nature mine, 
That were a present far too small; 

Love, so amazing, so divine, 
Demands my soul, my life, my all. 



Chap. V.] jesus christ. 121 



Insult and mockery. 



We left Jesus suffering under the scourge, 
by the hands of Pilate. Scourging was usually 
inflicted upon slaves, prior to their being cru- 
cified. This was the closing act of Pilate, 
who now delivered him into the hands of his 
enemies. Their victim was, at length, legally 
within their power. They no longer feared 
the people, since a band of soldiers was or- 
dered by the governor to superintend, and 
conduct the crucifixion. Jews doubtless min- 
gled in the scene, and showed the holy sufferer 
every mark of contempt and hatred, in their 
power. 

The soldiers having received Jesus, led 
him into the common hall, where the whole 
band, consisting of from four to six hundred^ 
were directed to assemble. 

And now began a series of insults and 
mockery, which, had he not been more than 
human, he could not have borne. Who in 
similar circumstances, possessed a soul so 
calm, and fortified ? Not a sigh escaped him ; 
11 



122 crucifixion of [Lee. V. 



Purple robe. Crown of thorns. 

not a murmur was uttered. Meek and hum- 
ble, he stood before them. Could they resist 
the feelings of humanity ? Could they repress 
pity for the man? But no such sympathy 
did they feel, and they indulged no pity. Je- 
sus had declared himself to be a king ; and 
though he was the " King of kings," they 
were unwilling to allow him the prerogatives 
of the humblest earthly monarch. To pour 
contempt upon him, they now stripped him of 
his upper garment, and clothed him with a 
worn out and cast off scarlet or purple robe. 
Next, they platted, or wove a wreath of thorns., 
which they put upon his head. Placing a 
reed in his hands, as a mock emblem of the 
sceptre of a king, they bowed in pretended ho- 
mage to him, saying, " Hail, king of the Jews." 
A writer remarks, that this was done for 
" sport and amusement." But what cruel 
sport it was ! what unholy amusement ! and, 
at length, as the climax of mockery — as the 
crowning act of contempt, they spit upon him } 
and, taking the reed, smote him on the head. 



Lee. V.] jesus christ. 123 

Calvary. Sinking under a cross. 



Having thus mocked, and set him at naught 
they led him forth to be crucified. The place 
selected was mount Calvary, a hill to the 
north-west of Jerusalem, without the walls of 
the city, but at a short distance. It was some- 
times called Golgotha, or the place of a skull, 
probably from the fact, that malefactors were 
put to death there, and their bones sometimes 
remained unburied, or unburned. 

It was usual for malefactors to bear their 
own cross. Jesus went forth bearing his ; 
but, weakened and exhausted, he sunk under 
the load. But how was this? Sinking be- 
neath the weight of a cross ! Where now was 
his power ? Had he not stilled the raging bil- 
lows of the sea ? Yes ; and he had summon- 
ed back the buried body from the grave. 
Even creating power was his to exercise. 
He possessed all power : but he exerted it 
not. He appeared in all the weakness of our 
nature, and was appropriately styled " the 
man of sorrows, and one acquainted with 



124 crucifixion of [Lee. V. 



The cross. 



grief. v He sunk, as I said, beneath his load. 
At this time, the procession met a man by the 
name of Simon, whom they compelled to bear 
one end of the cross after Jesus. 

" The cross was composed of two pieces of 
wood, one of which was placed upright in the 
earth, and the other across it, after the form 
of the letter T. The standard, or upright 
part, was generally so high, that the feet of 
the crucified person were two or three feet 
from the ground. On the middle of the up- 
right part, there was a projection or seat, on 
which the person crucified sat, or as it were, 
rode. This was necessary, as the hands were 
not alone strong enough to bear the weight of 
the body. The arms being extended, the 
hands were either nailed with spikes, or tied 
by cords to the cross piece, The feet were 
fastened in a similar manner to the standard. 
The hands and feet of our Saviour were fast- 
ened with spikes." 

The multitude, at length, reached the spot. 



Lee. V.J jesus christ. 125 

Vinegar and gal] . 

Before crucifying him, they offered him a pre- 
paration of vinegar mingled with gall ; or, as 
Mark calls it, wine mingled with myrrh. 
These were different terms for the same thing. 
This drink was often given to those who were 
about to be crucified, to render them insensi- 
ble, to their sufferings. Having by tasting it 
discovered what it was, Jesus declined it. 
He was unwilling to becloud his mind, or in 
the least to mitigate those sufferings, which 
were especially designed to atone for sin. 
u The cup, which my Father hath given me, 
shall I not drink it?" 

And, now, commenced their work of cruel- 
ty. The cross was laid upon the ground, 
Jesus was taken, stripped of his garments, 
and stretched upon it. Through his hands 
and his feet, large spikes were driven, and 
deeply iilibedded in the wood. What barbar- 
ity was this ! Oh ! the torture, the agony of 
this moment ! Blood streamed from the 
wounds, and anguish filled every avenue of 
11* 



126 crucifixion of [Lee. Vo 



The robbers. 



the soul. The cross was now elevated, with 
the sufferer upon it ; and, in order to fix it 
more firmly in the earth, it was let fall violent- 
ly into the hole dug to receive it. This pro- 
duced a degree of pain, which no language 
can describe. 

The Son of God was now hanging upon 
the cross— the very place, to which the mal- 
ice of his enemies would have consigned him. 
Their plans had succeeded. They had ac- 
complished their wish. But little did they 
think, that they were contributing to the ac- 
complishment of prophecy ; and, that his 
death would be the cause of everlasting halle- 
lujahs of praise. 

To show greater contempt for Jesus, two 
malefactors, were crucified at the same time. 
These were highway robbers, who probably 
had for their companion and leader, the infa- 
mous Barabbas. 

The immediate executioners of Jesus were 
four soldiers, who were selected for the pur- 



Lee. V.] jesus christ. 127 



They part my garments. 



pose. These, according to the custom of 
those times, divided his garments among them- 
selves, and cast lots for his coat. This fulfil- 
led the prophecy of the Psalmist, " They part 
my garments among them, and cast lots upon 
my vesture." (Ps. xxii. 18.) Having made 
this division, they seated themselves, and 
kept watch. This they did, for the purpose 
of keeping the friends of Jesus from coming 
to release him. In the mean time, his enemies 
thronged around him. There probably were 
to be seen the haughty scribe and pharisee, 
who had poured contempt upon his doctrine, 
and ridiculed his claims to being the Messiah, 
What exultation did they feel ! What triumph 
was theirs ! As they passed and repassed, 
they wagged their heads, by way of derision, 
and looking up to him, insultingly said, " If 
you are a king, come down from the cross" — 
tt He pretended to be the Son of God ; let God 
appear to deliver him, and we will believe." 
Did the universe ever present another such 



128 crucifixion of [Lee. VJ 

Reign of mercy. 

scene of mockery as this ? How could there 
be such a hiding of his power % How could 
he repress his indignation, which, had it burst 
forth, would have been like devouring fire? 
Why kindled not the anger of his Father? 
Why did wrath lie silent by ? The answer 
is, that it was emphatically the time of love. 
It was the reign of mercy. Justice consented 
to retire, and suffer grace, rich overflowing 
grace, to accomplish its plan. This was the 
reason, why Jesus " endured the cross, and 
despised the shame." This was the reason, 
why the Father prevented his wrath, from 
burning to the lowest hell. What will those 
think, who on Calvary poured forth their con- 
tempt of Jesus '?— what will Pilate think, and 
the proud scribes and pharisees think, when 
they shall hereafter see Jesus coming in the 
clouds of heaven, and in the glory of his Fa- 
ther? Then they will cry to the " rocks, fall on 
us, and to the mountains hide us from the pre- 
sence of the Lamb, and the glory of his power." 



Lee. V.] jesus christ. 129 



Appeal to Jesus. 



My children, so treat the Saviour yourselves, 
that at the day of his coming, you shall have 
no occasion to utter such an awful wish as 
this. 

It was marvellous, that any could treat 
even an enemy, as the Jews treated Jesus on 
the cross. But was it not more surprising, 
that the robbers who were crucified with him, 
should have joined in their reproaches ? Why 
they did so, or in what manner, we are not in- 
formed. They were among the lowest and 
vilest of mankind ; yet they might have thought 
Jesus lower and viler than themselves. His 
meekness and humility were an object of their 
contempt. But, at length, the patience and 
fortitude of Jesus, or perhaps some impression 
of the Spirit of God, convinced one of them, 
that he was the Messiah. It w T as but a little 
time, that he had to reflect on his crimes, and 
that amidst the tortures of crucifixion ; but in 
that time, he confessed his sins, and appealed 
to the mercy of the expiring Jesus for relief 



130 crucifixion of [Lee. V. 

None need despair. None may presume. 

In anguish and in agony, yet in faith, he cried, 
" Lord ! remember me, when thou comest in- 
to thy kingdom." This was enough. True 
repentance is ever accepted. Repentance, 
even in the hour of death, if genuine, will lead 
to glory. But from this instance, shall we 
presume ? Shall we put off the day of repen- 
tance, because repentance then is possible ? 
To the repentant thief the Saviour said, u To- 
daj^ shalt thou be with me in paradise." But 
this gives no warrant to procrastinate. It is 
the only recorded instance, in which pardon 
was extended to a person, in the hour of death. 
" This one instance," an old divine has well 
said, " was given, that none need despair; and 
but one was given, that none might presume" 
But we have not finished the story of the 
love and compassion of Jesus. His enemies, 
I have said, clustered around his cross, mock- 
ing and deriding his pangs. While they were 
doing this, and even while he was bearing the 
sufferings of a world of guilt, lifting his eyes to 



Lee. V.] JESUS CHRIST. 181 

"Let the rebels live. " 

heaven, he poured forth a prayer for them, 
"Father! forgive them, for they know not 
what they do. r What a miracle of love was 
this ! What triumph over ingratitude ! What 
glory in such divine compassion : 

Hark ! how he prays, (the charming sound 
Dwells on his dying lips) — Forgive ! | 

And every groan, and gaping wound, 
Cries, " Father, let the rebels live !' 5 

Can the glory of Jesus, think you, he aug- 
mented beyond this ? Fehaps not. But mark 
an instance of his care and tenderness, which, 
had it been true of an expiring hero, would 
have excited greater admiration, than the 
proudest victory on the field of conquest. A 
few friends witnessed the dying scene. One 
disciple, at least, was there ; and there, too, 
was his mother. In respect to this worlds 
she was poor. She had no home. Jesus 
saw her— he knew the poverty of her condi- 



132 crucifixion of [Lee. V. 



' Behold thy mother!" 



tion, and he felt it. With unspeakable ten- 
derness, he addressed her, " Woman ! be- 
hold thy son ;" and turning to John, his be- 
loved disciple, " Behold thy mother. 5 ' This 
was the climax of filial tenderness. This the 
consummation of the glory of Jesus, as a son. 
It was enough. John understood, and wel- 
comed the charge. From that hour, he took 
her to his house; and, for fifteen years, as 
tradition adds, treated her as his own mother, 
and the mother of his Lord. 

The work of Jesus was now nearly com- 
plete. Nature itself began to declare that the 
issue was at hand. The sun in the heavens, 
the emblem of the Sun of Righteousness, sick- 
ening at the awful sight, withdrew his beams. 
Midnight darkness overspread the land. 
What an appropriate sympathy, was this in 
the world's great fountain of light ! The poet 
has divinely said — 

Well might the sun in darkness hide. 
And shut his glories in, 



Lee. V.] jesus christ. 132 



' It is finished !" 



When God, the mighty Maker, died 
For man, the creature's sin. 

Let us hasten to the conclusion. The mo- 
ment, at length Game, when agony had reached 
its height. That was the moment, in which 
the Father withdrew his face, and a dread 
eclipse passed over the Redeemer's soul. It 
was probably only a moment, but it extorted 
from him the loud wail, " My God! my God! 
way hast thou forsaken me !" 

The darkness rolled off; and, as it rolled 
away, Jesus saw that his great work was done 
— his victory was won — his triumph was com- 
plete! With a loud voice, he proclaimed, " It 
is finished !" and, bowed and died. 

The Prince of Life resigns his breath \ 
The King of Glory bows to death. 

Nature again expressed her sympathy. 

The earth shook and trembled, as when God 
\2 



134 crucifixion of [Lee. V. 

"This was the Son of God." 

came from Teman, the Holy One, from Mount 
Paran. Rocks burst asunder. The taberna- 
cles of the dead were opened, and saints 
sleeping there, at length, after the resurrec- 
tion of the Son of God, arose, and appeared 
unto many. Who they were, or what became 
of them is unknown. They might have again 
died ; or, perhaps, were translated to heaven. 
Nor can w r e tell w r hy they arose — perhaps, as a 
demonstration of the reality of the resurrection 
■ — as evidence to the Jews, that Jesus was the 
Messiah. 

The wonders of that scene w r ere not entire- 
ly lost. What effect those convulsions of na- 
ture had upon the enemies of Jesus, I cannot 
say ; but the centurion and the soldiers, who 
watched him, saw in them the clear evidence 
of the relation of Jesus to the God of the uni- 
verse. Under this conviction, he declared, 
and it was the declaration of a heathen, " Tru- 
ly, this was the Son of God !" 

Well might the centurion say what he did. 



Lee. V.] jesus christ. 135 



Will you not be grateful ? 



He was the Son of God. And there, on the 
cross, he suffered what the prophet Isaiah said 
he should suffer : " He was wounded for our 
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniqui- 
ties : the chastisement of our peace was upon 
him, and with his stripes we are healed." 

My children, you owe more to Jesus, than 
I can tell. Had he not died, your sins could 
never have been pardoned. You would have 
gone to the grave without hope. Heaven, 
would, indeed, have existed; but you could 
have had no place there. 

But, now, you may repent, and be forgiven. 
And if you do repent, and believe in Jesus, 
peace will accompany you through life, and 
where he dwells, you will dwell, and behold 
his glory. 

Will you not be grateful to him, who suffer- 
ed so much for you \ Will you not open your 
little hearts, and bid him welcome. Will you 
not employ your lips, and raise high his praise ; 



136 crucifixion of jesus christ. [Lee. V. 

Every creature say, Amen 

What equal honors shall we bring 
To thee, O Lord our God, the Lamb, 

When all the notes that angels sing, 
Are far inferior to thy name ? 

Worthy is he that once was slain, 

The Prince of Peace that groan'd and died, 

Worthy to rise, and live, and reign, 
At his Almighty Father's side. 

Blessings forever on the Lamb, 

Who bore the curse for wretched man : 

Let angels sound his sacred name, 
And every creature say, Amen. 



LSCTUHB ?L 



THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. 



Contents.— Request of the Jews to hasten the death of Jesus. Found 
already dead. Proof that he was dead. Why he died, so much 
sooner than common. The tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Manner 
in which bodies were laid in sepulchres. Measures taken by the 
Jews to prevent the body of Jesus from being stolen. The impor- 
tance of the question, "Did Jesus rise from the dead?" Appear- 
ance of the women at the sepulchre. Arrival of Peter and John. 
Discovery of Jesus to Mary Magdalene. To Peter. To two disci- 
ples, on their way toEmmaus. To all the disciples, except Thomas, 
To them, when Thomas was present. Other appearances. Could 
the disciples have been deceived 1 Were they honest ? Stoiy of 
the Jews to account for his absence from the sepulchre. Ascension, 



I intended, when I began these Lectures, 
my children, to conclude them with an ac- 
count of the crucifixion of Christ. But hav- 
ing described that solemn event, I persuade 
myself, that you will wish me to add some par- 
ticulars about his resurrection and ascension. 

But before I tell you about these two great 
12* 



138 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VI. 

Hour of crucifixion. 

events, I will briefly relate the circumstances, 
which immediately followed his death. 

Jesus expired about nine o'clock in the 
day, as the Jews reckoned time ; or about 
three o'clock in the afternoon, as we reckon 
it. We commence our day at twelve o'clock, 
at night ; they began theirs at six o'clock, in 
the morning. At their three o'clock, or our 
nine in the morning, preparations began to be 
made for crucifying Jesus. Some suppose 
that he was actually suspended from the cross 
at our nine o'clock. This was probably not 
so. I cannot tell you in this place the rea- 
sons for this opinion. Preparations, as I said ? 
began to be made about nine o'clock ; but 
there is reason to believe, that Jesus was not 
suspended upon the cross till about our twelve 
o'clock. This was six o'clock, with the Jews. 
Darkness from this time prevailed over all 
the land. It might well be supposed, that if 
darkness prevailed at all, it would begin at 
the time, that Jesus began to be crucified. 



Lee. VI. AND ASCENSION. 139 



How long Jesus hung upon the cross. 



This, I say, would better agree with our ideas 
of fitness, or propriety, and this admission 
helps to remove a difficulty, which you will ob- 
serve, by comparing Mark xv. 25, with John 
xix. 14. Mark, it is supposed, here speaks 
of the time, when preparations began to be 
made, and John of the time about which Jesus 
began to be suspended upon the cross. If we are 
correct, Jesus hung upon the cross between 
three and four hours only, for he died at their 
nine o'clock, answering to our three o'clock 
in the afternoon. This was an unusually 
short period, for one to die by crucifixion ; for, 
although it was attended with great pain, 
persons who thus suffered often lingered two 
or three days, and sometimes even seven or 
eight days. 

Jesus was crucified on Friday. The day 
following was our Saturday, which with the 
Jews was the seventh day, as they reckoned 
the days of the week, and was their Sabbath. 
To suffer persons to remain hung over the 



140 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VI. 

Joseph of Arimathea. 



Sabbath, was contrary to their practice. 
This was founded upon a law, which you can 
read in Deut. xxi. 22, 23. This law was 
made before crucifixion was known, but it was 
in practice applied to those who were crucifi- 
ed, as it had been to those who had been 
hung in the common manner. To avoid a vi- 
olation of this law, it was necessary that the 
bodies of Jesus and the thieves should be tak- 
en down, by the time of sun-setting, since the 
Jewish Sabbath began at that time. The 
Jews therefore sent to Pilate, and requested 
that the legs of Jesus, and of the two thieves 
might be broken, in order to hasten their deaths, 
that their bodies might be taken down in sea- 
son. 

About the same time, or perhaps a little be- 
fore, Joseph of Arimathea himself went to Pi- 
late, and requested that the body of Jesus, 
when dead, might be delivered to him. This 
Joseph was a secret believer in Jesus, and a 
" just, and good man." He had opposed his 



LeC. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 141 



A bone shall not be broken. 



crucifixion, as cruel and unjust. And, now, 
he was desirous of showing respect to his me- 
mory, by giving him a decent burial. To this 
request of Joseph, Pilate acceded, and gave 
him an order to take the body of Jesus, when 
dead. 

The Jews having given the order of Pilate 
to the soldiers, to break the legs of Jesus and 
of the thieves, in order to hasten their death, 
they proceeded to execute it. The legs of 
the thieves were first broken, and they expir- 
ed — but when they came to Jesus, they found 
him dead already, and they broke not his legs. 
It was foretold that they should not do it. 
" A bone of him shall not be broken." (Ex. 
xii. 46, Ps. xxxiv. 20.) 

But was he in truth dead ? This is an impor- 
tant question. According to the Scriptures, 
he was to die. He himself said he should 
die; and unless he did die, he would not 
atone for sin. Was he, then, dead? But 
why ask the question ? Because it is impor- 



142 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VI. 



Was he dead ? 



tant to establish the proof of the fact. He died 
sooner than was common. Pilate, when he 
heard of his death, marvelled that he should 
have died so soon. And some may think, 
that he only fainted or swooned away ; and that 
his friends afterwards revived him, and preten- 
ded that he rose from the dead. You see, 
then, how important proof is on this point. 

And that proof we have — full, satisfactory 
proof. To the soldiers, when they came to 
him, he appeared to be dead. But one of 
them, to try whether he was dead, thrust his 
spear into his side. This was probably his 
left side, though it is not certain. The wound 
was a deep one. It is certain that it reached 
the heart, and if Jesus had not been already 
dead, it would have killed him. But how is 
it known that the spear reached the heart ? 
From this fact, that blood and water, or some- 
thing which bore the appearance of water, 
flowed from the wound. The heart of every 
person is surrounded by a kind of sack or bag. 



Lee. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 143 



Whom they have pierced. 



This sack is called the pericardium, and con- 
tains a thin liquor, which resembles water. 
The heart itself contains blood. Now observe, 
the spear pierced through this sack, from 
which flowed the water, and penetrated the 
heart, from which flowed the blood. 

This act of the soldier, fulfilled the prophe- 
cy, (Zech. xii. 10,) "They shall look upon him 
whom they have pierced : v and, moreover, it 
established the point, that Jesus was in truth 
dead ; for if he was not already dead, that 
spear would have killed him : so that we are 
sure that Jesus did die, and doubtless he was 
dead, when the soldier pierced him. The 
apostle John tells us, that he himself was pres- 
ent, and saw the soldier pierce his side, and 
that he saw the blood and water flow forth, 
and that he was sure he was not deceived. 
(John xix. 35.) Doubtless all these circum- 
stances were ordered by Providence, that the 
enemies of Christ might not have it to say 
that he did not die : and this they never preten- 



144 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VI. 

Why Jesus died so soon. 

ded. There was full proof of his death, and 
they could not dispute the fact. 

But it may be interesting to inquire, " How 
came Jesus to die in a period so much shorter 
than usual?" It is easy to assign sufficient 
reasons. Through the whole preceding night, 
he had had no sleep — he had been weakened 
by his agony in the garden — had been scourg- 
ed by Pilate — had been mocked and buffeted 
by the soldiers— had been obliged to bear his 
cross, under which he fainted— and more than 
all, had travailed in sorrow for a w r orld of sin- 
ners — and under such sorrow as no language 
can describe. And, then, there is no evidence 
that he had tasted food, from the time he 
left the chamber in Jerusalem, where he had 
eaten the Passover, w r ith his disciples. Who 
will wonder that he died so soon ? Who rath- 
er will not wonder that nature held out, and 
held on in her course, so long ? 

Having received the body of Jesus from the 
soldiers, Joseph wrapped it in a clean Ymem 



Lee. IV.] AND ASCENSION. 145 



Embalming 



cloth, and around the body he placed about 
an hundred pounds weight of myrrh, aloes, 
and other spices. In this, he was assisted by 
Nicodemus, who Avas also a secret believer in 
Christ, as the Messiah. This was the same 
Nicoclemus, with whom Jesus once had a con- 
versation, an account of which you may read 
in John hi. 1, and onward. The object of 
these spices was to preserve the body ; and 
when done with care, was called embalming. 
At this time, it was evidently done in haste, as 
the day was far spent. 

With this hasty preparation, the body was 
removed to a tomb, or sepulchre in a garden 
belonging to Joseph, in which it was deposit- 
ed. This tomb was a new one, and no corpse 
as yet had been laid in it. It was doubtless 
designed for Joseph himself, it being not un- 
common for wealthy Jews in their life-time, to 
have sepulchres prepared for themselves. 
And, besides, this fulfilled a remarkable proph- 
ecy, which you will find in Isa. liii. 9. This 
13 



146 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VI. 



Sepulchre. 



passage bishop Lowth translates : u He made 
his grave with the wicked ; but with the rich 
man was his tomb :" i. e. His crucifiers 
would endeavor to bury him with the wicked 
malefactors : but a rich man would furnish a 
tomb. How wonderful the prophecy ! How 
exact the fulfilment ! And this prophecy, 
children, was written seven hundred years be- 
fore Christ died. 

I must add a few words more about this 
sepulchre. It was hewn out of solid rock. 
It was a large under-ground room. Sepul- 
chres in those days, were often much larger 
than is commonly supposed. That of David 
was more than one hundred feet in length, and 
was divided into several apartments. The 
one in which Jesus was laid might have been 
less, but was capable of containing several 
persons. The bodies of deceased persons 
were laid in places, in the sides of the sepul- 
chres, called niches. In one of these the body 
of our Lord was laid. These sepulchres had 



Lee. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 147 



Resting in the tomb. 



but one entrance, which being rendered secure, 
no access could be had to them. For the pur- 
pose of securing the body of Jesus, Joseph, 
doubtless with the assistance of his friends, 
rolled a large stone over the entrance-way of 
his sepulchre, which having done, he depart- 
ed. 

Jesus was now dead. The malice of his 
enemies had persecuted him through life. 
From the very time that he had entered upon 
his public ministry, he had enjoyed little peace, 
by reason of the envy and hatred of the scribes 
and pharisees. That envy and hatred had 
brought him to the cross. But, at length, he 
rested quietly in the tomb. Quietly, did Ave 
say? The grave is, indeed, generally a resting 
place. There it is said, even " the wicked 
cease from troubling, and the weary are at 
rest." 

In one respect, it was so with the Redeem 
er. His enemies did not, and could not, now 
trouble him. But they were troubled about 



148 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VL 

Watch set. Stone sealed. 

him. They recollected, what he had said, 
that on the third day he would rise again. 
They therefore repaired to Pilate, and made 
known to him their fears — -not that he would 
rise, but that his disciples would steal his body 
from the sepulchre, and pretend that he had 
risen. Hence they requested Pilate, that the 
sepulchre might, in some way, be made sure. 
Pilate himself felt interested in the result; and, 
accordingly, told the Jews to take such part 
of the band of soldiers as they wished, for a 
watch, and to make all things as secure as 
they were able. Thus directed, they set a 
sufficient watch, and, moreover, put a seal 
upon the stone : perhaps the public seal of 
Pilate, which no man might venture to break. 
Matters were thus arranged, as the very en- 
emies of Jesus wished. They were satisfied, 
that he was dead : they knew that he was in 
the tomb : they had provided against the ap- 
proach of his friends : a large stone closed 
the only entrance — a seal was affixed to it — - 



Lee. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 149 



Did Jesus rise 1 



and a guard of thirty men watched around. 
What greater care could they have taken ? 
How could they have been more sure ? 

Now, then, " Did Jesus rise from the dead?" 
A more important question than this, my 
children, has not been asked, since time be- 
gan. Shall we even make the supposition, 
that Jesus did not rise from the dead? Ah ! 
if he did not, what hope can we have 1 None ; 
no, not the least. This the apostle Paul has 
decided. He says, (1 Cor. xv. 16, 17,) " If 
the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised ; 
and if Christ is not raised, your faith is vain ; 
ye are yet in your sins." The apostle means, 
that if Christ rose not from the dead, our hope 
of pardon from God is vain. My children, if 
Christ rose not from the dead, the Bible is of 
no value — it may contain many wise maxims ; 
but, then, whether any of the children of men 
can be saved, we know not. Every thing de- 
pends upon the resurrection of our Lord Je- 
sus Christ. If he was not raised, we have no 
13* 



150 THE RESURRECTION [LeC VL 

If he 10 ^e not— 



evidence that we shall be raised. We know 
that we shall go to the grave. Death is cer- 
tain. And certain it is, that one day the clods 
of the valley will cover us ! but if Christ rose 
not, the grave is indeed a gloomy place. If 
he rose not — - 

Silence, and solitude, and gloom, 
In those forgetful realms appear ; 
Deep sorrows fill the dismal tomb, 
And hope shall never enter there. 

Indeed, if Christ rose not, of what value is 
the Bible ? You possess it, but why are you, 
on this account, better off, than those that 
have it not ? And why spend money to send 
it to the little children, who live on the banks of 
the Ganges, and the Nile ? If Jesus rose not, 
they are as well off as you are, in all their 
darkness and ignorance. 

You perceive then the importance of the 
question, " Did Jesus rise from the dead V 7 



LeC. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 151 



Women at the sepulchre. 



I have not said these things— I have not 
asked these questions, because I think there 
is any doubt on the subject. No, there is full 
and satisfactory evidence, that he did rise tri- 
umphant over all his foes, as he said he 
would. But I have put these questions, that 
you might think of the importance of the sub- 
ject, and so examine it as to have you minds 
well settled upon this cardinal doctrine of the 
Christian religion. 

Again, then, I ask the question, u Did Jesus 
rise from the dead?" 

Now, then, on the third day after he was 
crucified, very early in the morning, it is cer- 
tain that his body was no longer in the sepul- 
chre. I say it is certain, for, at that time, 
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James 
and Joses, Salome, and Joanna, came to the 
sepulchre, and found there an angel, who de- 
clared to them that Jesus had risen from the 
sepulchre. They saw that the stone was 
rolled from the entrance. They were invited 



152 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VI. 



Earthquake. 



to enter in, and see where the Lord had lain. 
And they did see, and he was not there. 

But you may ask, why were these women 
so early at the sepulchre ? They were at the 
sepulchre, when Jesus was laid in it, by Jo- 
seph of Arimathea. They knew that the work 
of embalming him had been hastily done. 
More spices were necessary ; or at least, fur- 
ther operations were necessary to preserve 
the body. They had bought more spices, and 
with these they came early to the sepulchre^ 
for the benevolent purpose of completing the 
embalming process. 

But, on their arrival, what did they behold ? 
The watch was no longer there. A little pre- 
viously, there had been an earthquake. It 
was a demonstration of the power of God. It 
was the signal, that Jesus was bursting the 
barriers of the grave, and was rising from the 
dead. It was a sudden and terrific event to 
the guard, watching around the sepulchre of 
Jesus. At the same instant, that the earth- 



Lee. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 153 



Descent of an angeL 



quake occurred,, an angel from heaven alight- 
ed upon the place, rolled back the stone, and 
sat upon it. His countenance was like light- 
ning, and his raiment as white as snow, In 
terror and dismay, the keepers, that is the 
guard, did shake, and became as dead men. 
In their alarm, they probably fainted. At this 
time, Jesus probably ro*e, came out of the 
sepulchre, passed away, and they saw him 
not. On recovering, the guard naturally fled 
from the place; soon after which the women 
made their appearance, and seeing the stone 
rolled from the entrance they entered in ? 
where they saw the vision of angels, who told 
them that Jesus was not there, but had risen, 
as he said he would. 

When these women first approached the 
sepulchre, Mary Magdalene was with them, 
But, it is supposed, that seeing the stone roll- 
ed away, she immediately left the other wo- 
men, and ran to the city, a distance of half a 
mile, to inform the disciples of this wonderful 
circumstance. 



154 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VI. 



Peter and John running. 



After her departure, the other women, as I 
told you, entered into the sepulchre, where 
they saw the angels, who bid them go and tell 
his disciples, that Jesus had risen, and would 
see them in Galilee, as he had before told 
them. 

These women accordingly left the sepulchre, 
and proceeded towards the city, to do as the 
angels had bid them. 

While they were gone, Mary Magdalene re- 
turned to the sepulchre, following Peter and 
John, who came running. (John xx. 2—9.) 
It seems she had told them, what she had 
seen, and that they in their surprise and ardor 
ran towards the sepulchre, leaving Mary to 
follow, as she was able. On their arrival, 
they entered into the sepulchre, and examined 
it. The body of Jesus was not there. They 
saw, however, the linen clothes lying there in 
order. But they knew not what to think. 
The angels appear not to have been seen by 
them. Wondering what these things could 



Lee. VI. j AND ASCENSION. 155 

They have taken him away. 



mean, they left the sepulchre and returned to 
the city. (John xx. 10.) 

Mary Magdalene was now left alone. There 
she stood by the sepulchre, and there poured 
forth her tears. She knew not what to make 
of these things. Jesus, whom she had loved, 
was taken away ; a mystery which she could 
not solve hung round the affair, and damped 
all her joy. While thus weeping, she stooped 
down, and looked into the sepulchre. What 
was her surprise to observe two angels, who 
kindly asked her, why she wept. She repli- 
ed, that she was seeking her Lord, who had 
been taken away, and she knew not where 
they had laid him. Where they had laid him ! 
Had Mary then no suspicion that he had risen ? 
Probably not. Jesus had, indeed, often told 
his disciples^ that he should rise from the dead ; 
but they seem not to have understood him. 
Much less, probably, did Mary dream of such 
an event. 

While thus talking with the angels, turning 



156 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VL 



' Mart) 



herself for a moment, she saw some one stand- 
ing not far distant from her. It was Jesus 
himself. But she knew him not. But how 
was this ? Not know him ? Not know one, 
whom she had known so intimately, and so 
long ! Why she did not recognize him, I can- 
not certainly say. One reason doubtless was, 
she did not expect to see him alive, and may 
be his countenance was changed, by his suf- 
ferings and death. She supposed him to be 
the gardener of Joseph, and accordingly in- 
quired of him, whether he had taken him 
away ; and if so, where he had laid him ? 

At this moment, Jesus said unto her, "Ma- 
ry ! r It was pronounced in his well known, 
kind, and affectionate voice. This was 
enough. Instantly did she recognize him, 
and would have fallen at his feet to embrace 
him. But he said to her, Mary, " touch me 
nof — that is, do not wait to prostrate your- 
self at my feet, in any act of worship, or re- 
gard. It will be sometime before I ascend to 



Lee. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 157 



Appears to Peter. 



my Father, and you will have opportunity to 
manifest towards me your love and affection ; 
but hasten now, and tell my disciples, that I 
have risen, and shall bye and bye ascend to 
my Father and your Father, to my God and 
your God." (John xx. 16, 17.) Mary did as 
she was directed. She told the disciples, 
but they believed her not. 

What an honor was here put upon Mary ! 
She was the first to whom Jesus discovered 
himself, after his resurrection. Not long after, 
he appeared to the other women, also, on 
their return from the city, whither they went, 
as I told you, to inform his disciples, that they 
had seen the stone of the sepulchre rolled 
away. (Mat. xxviii. 8.) 

Next, Jesus appeared to Peter. (Luke xxiv. 
34. ) This was before Jesus had appeared to 
any of the other disciples. (1 Cor. xv. 5.) 
How kind this was in the Redeemer, consid- 
ering how grievously Peter denied his Lord 
and Master. It showed how willing he was 
14 



158 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VI. 



To two disciples. 



to pardon his disciple, who he knew had wept 
bitterly over his crime, and how ready, too, 
to administer comfort to all who are sincerely 
penitent. 

During the same day, towards evening, Je- 
sus appeared to two disciples, as they were 
proceeding from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a 
village between seven and eight miles from 
the city. The name of one of these was Cle- 
opas, the name of the other is unknown. As 
these disciples were walking along, and con- 
versing about the wonderful events, which 
had happened in Jerusalem. Jesus himself 
overtook them. They knew him not, for he 
appeared in a different form, from usual. 
(Mark xvi. 12.) He enquired of them about 
what they were conversing, which rendered 
them so sad. They expressed their surprise 
that he could be ignorant, for said Cleopas, 
" If you are only a stranger in Jerusalem, you 
might well have learned what lias taken 
place." 



Lee. VL] AND ASCENSION. 159 



Discovers who he is. 



Jesus inquiring to what events he referred, 
Cleopas told him the story, and when he had 
finished, Jesus, without disclosing who it was, 
made them acquainted with what the old Tes- 
tament contained respecting the Messiah — 
how he should suffer, and die, and rise again. 
All this they perceived to be true of Jesus of 
Nazareth, and they evidently began to be satis- 
fied, that he was indeed the Messiah. 

They had now reached the village, whither 
they were going; and as they were about en- 
tering the house, at which they were to stop, 
Jesus kept on, apparently intending to proceed 
further. They urged him, however, to go in, 
and tarry with them. This invitation he ac- 
cepted. Not long after, supper having been 
provided, he took his seat with them at the 
table, upon which taking bread in a solemn 
manner, he blessed it, and break, and gave it 
to them. They immediately knew who it 
was. Jesus himself instantly left the house. 
They were satisfied, that it was their Lord 



160 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VL 



Sudden appearance. 



and Master. They talked over the subject, 
and referred to the deep interest, which they 
had taken in the things, which he had said to 
them, by the way. They could not rest satis- 
lied to remain where they were. It was now 
night ; but such was their joy, that they rose 
up the same hour, and hastened to Jerusalem, 
to tell the disciples. 

On their arrival, they found the disciples 
and some others together, conversing about 
the appearance of Jesus to Simon Peter. 
Their story was soon related, and doubtless 
served to add to their joy and wonder. They 
had indeed strong evidence, that he was 
alive again, and yet could it be so ? While 
they were pondering upon these things, Jesus 
suddenly stood in the midst of them. The 
doors were shut, and perhaps fastened for 
fear of the Jews. This last, however, is not 
certain ; the doors might only have been clos- 
ed, and Jesus might have so suddenly opened 
them, as to have spread terror among them. 



LeC. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 161 



Invites examination. 



For a time, they supposed him to be a spirit. 
But he proceeded to remove their doubts, by 
showing to them his hands and his feet, which 
still bore the marks of the nails, which had 
fastened him to the cross. He invited them 
to examine him, and thus to satisfy themselves, 
that he was indeed alive again. All this did 
not satisfy them. They believed not "for 
joy." To furnish them with still more convin- 
cing proof, that he was no spirit, he ate in 
their presence a piece of broiled fish, and 
some honey comb. He now reminded them 
of the words, he had said to them, before his 
crucifixion, relative to his rising again — that 
this event, as w T ell as the subject of his suffer- 
ings and death, was predicted in the Scrip- 
tures, and it was necessary that all these 
things should be fulfilled. 

At this interview, Thomas, one of the dis- 
ciples, appears not to have been present. 
The others told him, however, what they had 
seen, and that it was certainly Jesus himself. 
14* 



162 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VI. 



Doubts of Thomas removed. 



However, he believed not. Whether he was 
not as easily convinced, as some other men, 
I cannot say ; but he told his fellow disciples, 
that before he should believe, he must see in 
the hands of Jesus, the print of the nails, and 
put his fingers into them, and thrust his hand 
into his side. You may wonder why Thomas 
was so reluctant to believe. But it was well 
that he was so. It was a point of great im- 
portance to prove that Christ had actually ris- 
en from the dead. 

Eight days after the above interview, that is 
on the next Christian Sabbath, Thomas had 
an opportunity of removing all his doubts. 
The disciples were again together, and again 
Jesus came, and stood in the midst of them. 
Turning to Thomas, he invited him to exam- 
ine for himself — " reach hither thy finger, and 
behold my hands ; and reach hither thy hand, 
and thrust it into my side, and no longer 
doubt." The effect upon Thomas was such, 
as might have been expected. He felt con- 



Lee. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 163 



Other appearances. 



vinced, he felt satisfied, and in the midst of 
his surprise, and conviction, and joy, he ex- 
claimed : " My Lord ! and my God !" 

The disciples were now convinced; but 
that no doubt might remain-— and especially, 
that the evidence might be satisfactory in all 
periods of time, Jesus remained some time 
longer upon the earth, and on divers occa- 
sions showed himself to his disciples, and 
other followers. I will just name the instan- 
ces — to Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, 
and John, and two others, at the sea of Tibe- 
rias. (John xxi. 1 — 14.) 

To the disciples on a mountain of Galilee. 
(Mat. xxviii. 16.) 

To more than five hundred brethren at once. 
(1 Cor. xv. 6.) 

To James, one of the apostles. (1 Cor. 
xv. 7.) 

To all the apostles assembled together. (I 
Cor. xv. 7.) 

To the apostles, at his ascension. (Luke 
xxiv. 51, Actsi. 9, 10.) 



164 THE RESURRECTIOxN [LeC. VL 

Were the Apostles deceived 1 

Here, then, my children, is the evidence 
which we have, that Christ rose from the 
dead, after his crucifixion. This is by no 
means, all the proof, which we have. But I 
ask, is not this enough? 

But you say, perhaps, that the apostles, af- 
ter all, might have been deceived. Deceived ! 
But how^ could that be ? Had but one of them 
seen Jesus, we might well doubt. Or, had 
they all seen him but once, w r e might doubt. 
But they saw him on several occasions — they 
saw him together and separately — they saw him 
not only at night, but in the day-time — they 
conversed with him — eat with him — handled and 
examined him — he continued to show himself, 
at different times, for forty days in succession. 
How then could they be deceived ? 

But, w^ere they homst ? Have they told us 
a fair story of w r hat they actually saw ? What 
motive could they have had to deceive man- 
kind ? No, my children, it is sufficient proof, 
that they were honest, and told the truth, that 



Lee. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 165 



Were they honest 1 



they suffered incredible hardships, in after 
life, and yet no one of them ever relented. 
They were persecuted, afflicted, tormented, 
and finally murdered ; and, yet, to their dying 
day, and dying moments, they insisted that 
they had told the truth, and nothing but the 
truth. When you are older, you must exam- 
ine this subject, and you will find more reason 
to believe that Christ actually rose from the 
dead, than you have that there is such a place 
as Rome, or such a river as the Ganges. 

But did not the Jews say that the disciples 
came and stole the body oj Jesus from the sepul- 
chre ? 

Yes, they did say so. But what evidence had 
they of this? One thing they admitted, that 
on the morning of the third day after Jesus 
was crucified, his body was missing from the 
sepulchre. Of this fact, there could be no 
doubt. Now, then, let us see how they at- 
tempted to prove that the disciples stole his 
body. 



166 THE RESURRECTION [LeC. VI. 



Story of the Jews 



The watch, I told you, on the appearance 
of the angel, and the occurrence of the earth- 
quake, were for a time, overwhelmed with 
awe, and amazement ; or perhaps they swoon- 
ed away. On recovering, they hastened to 
the city, and made known the things they 
had seen. The Jewish council was immedi- 
ately assembled. (Mat. xxviii. 12.) The 
question now was, what should be done. 
The body was gone. The soldiers, perhaps, 
knew not by what means Jesus had left the 
tomb ; but they did know that they had not 
taken it away, and they knew, moreover, that 
the disciples had not. This last was impossi- 
ble. It would have been death to any one to 
have attempted it. But, no other story, would 
for a moment, be believed. The Jewish 
leaders, therefore, bribed the soldiers to con- 
ceal the truth, and to affirm, what they knew 
to be false. You must say that the disciples 
came and stole him away, while we slept. 

What a wicked and ridiculous expedient this 



Lee. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 167 

Wicked and weak. 

was. It was death to any sentinel to sleep 
on his post. The soldiers told this to the 
council. The council replied, " True — -but 
do you say this, and if Pilate hears of it, and 
threatens to put you to death, we will come 
forward and persuade him to pardon you.'' 

This was both wicked, and weak. It was 
wicked because it was false; and it was 
weak, because, if the soldiers were asleep, as 
they pretended, how should they know whether 
the disciples or any one else, took the body 
of Jesus. Do men see objects around them? 
— do they know what takes place, while they 
are asleep? The story was too obviously 
false ; and. withal, too mean and wicked, 
ever to be extensively believed. It was, in- 
deed, reported in after years by the enemies of 
Jesus; but that religion which was preached 
by the apostles in his name, spread far and 
wide — converts were multiplied and thousands 
bowed to the doctrines of the cross. 

I will only add, in this place, that at the ex- 



168 THE RESURRECTION [Lee. VI. 



Ascension. 



piration of forty days, Jesus assembling his 
disciples, conducted them to the eastern side 
of the Mount of Olives, to the village of Beth- 
any, which was situated there, and having 
given them his final instructions, he lifted up 
his hands, and pronounced his divine blessing 
upon them. 

This was the parting signal. The moment 
of separation had arrived. " Lo, I am with 
you," said he, " to the end of the world"— 
and as the gracious words proceeded out of 
his mouth, a cloud was seen descending, 
which was to be his charriot to the realms of 
glory above. In a moment following, he was 
seen ascending, and as he went up, his disci- 
ples poured forth a song of praise to him, and 
doubtless sought in prayer, the fulfillment of 
his gracious promise, that he would, indeed, 
be with them, and with all his faithful disci- 
ples, till the end of time ; and the fulfillment of 
another promise, that in a little time, he would 



Lee. VI.] AND ASCENSION. 169 



A song for children. 



come and take them to dwell with him, that 
they might behold his glory. 
Methinks they sung : 

Master, (may we ever say,) 
Taken from the world away, 
See thy faithful servants, see, 
Ever gazing up to thee ; 
Grant, though parted from our sight, 
High above yon azure height, — 
Grant our souls may thither rise — 
Following thee beyond the skies. 

My children, let us sing, as they sung ; and 
to that song let us add, what may Christ ena- 
ble us to accomplish : 

Ever upward let us move, 
Wafted on the wings of love ; 
Looking when our Lord shall come— 
Looking for a happier home : 
There we shall with thee remain, 
Partners of thy endless reign ; 
There thy face unclouded see — 
Find a heav'n of heav'ns in thee. 

15 



LBCTUHB VIZ. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



Contents. — Manner in which Christ ascended. His welcome into 
heaven. Joy and grief of the disciples. Jesus still lives in heaven. 
Heaven a blessed place. Society of heaven. Will children ever 
reach heaven 1 What they mast do, for that purpose. Heaven a 
holy place, and those that go thither must be holy also. Children 
may die soon. Their souls of immortal value. The soul not to be 
sacrificed for the world. A source of great danger. Never be 
ashamed of Christ. 



My last lecture concluded with a brief ac- 
count of the ascension of Jesus to heaven. 
That ascension was made in open day, and in 
the presence of all the apostles. I told you 
that he ascended in a cloud. You may won- 
der how he could be borne up by a cloud. 
The cloud was not essential. He that could 
walk upon the waves without sinking— he 
that could silence those waves, when raging 
tumultously — he that need only speak and 



LeC. VII.] CONCLUDING REMARKS. 171 



Entrance of Jesus into heaven. 



the dead rose from the grave — he that had all 
power in heaven and on earth, how easily 
could he ascend by that power, through the 
air to heaven. But that cloud doubtless ad- 
ded to the sublimity of the scene. 

What a solemn sight ! How full of gran- 
deur and glory ! His great work accomplish- 
ed — his triumph forever complete, and now 
passing, as it were, in a triumphal charriot to 
the throne of his glory. Who can tell the 
wonders of his entrance into the eternal city of 
holiness and joy. Ah ! how many thousands 
and tens of thousands of saints and angels wel- 
comed his approach. That was a glorious 
day, and that the most joyful occasion known, 
even in the annals of heaven itself. Angels 
and archangels bowed before him — principali- 
ties and powers did him homage — all heaven 
united in swelling loud and wide the joyful 
song : " Lift up your heads, O ye gates ; and 
be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the 
King of glory shall come in!" 



172 concluding [Lee. VII. 



Joy In the bosom of the disciples. 



What a contrast between heaven and earth. 
All was joy above, all was — shall we say 
grief below 1 No. by no means. There was 
joy even in the bosom of his disciples, sad and 
sorrowful as they felt. Why should there 
not have been ? It was indeed, hard for them 
to part with him. They had long loved him, 
and long had he watched over them; and, 
now, what could they do without his presence 
and support? But these they would still 
have. tt I will not leave you comfortless," he 
had said to them, " but I will come to you, 
and make my abode with you." And on his 
departure, the last words he had said to them, 
were, " Lo, I am with you always, even to the 
end of the world." 

Could they then grieve? — could they de- 
spond ? — could they fear ? Doubts now 
vanished. It was all plain to them, that he was 
the Son of God, and they his honored and 
commissioned servants, to advance a kingdom 
which he had founded by his blood. Instead 



Lee. VIL] REMARKS. 173 



Jesus now in heaven. 



therefore, of repining, they returned to Jerusa- 
lem, iC with great joy ;" (Luke xxiv. 52;) and 
entering the temple, employed themselves in 
" praising and blessing God." 

It is now, my children, about eighteen hun- 
dred years, since Christ ascended from Mount 
Olivet to heaven. During this long period, 
there he has resided on the throne of his Fa- 
ther. And there he still is. Yes ; at the very 
moment, that you are perusing these lines, Je- 
sus is in heaven, dwelling in glory, which no 
mortal eye could see, and live. And he is 
there, too, in a bodily form. When he was 
parted from his disciples, he went up with the 
same body, which was crucified ; and with 
which he rose from the sepulchre. Before he 
reached heaven, that body was changed. 
What that change was, I cannot tell. But it 
became a spiritual body. It was something 
like to the body, which he had on earth ; only 
it is inconceivably beautiful and glorious. 
Nothing in the universe can probably compare 
15* 



174 concluding [Lee. VII. 



Heaven a glorious place. 



with it ; and there, in this spiritual body ? and 
on his throne of glory, Jesus dwells in heaven 
and there — 

Adoring saints around him stand, 

And thrones and powers before him fall ; 

The God shines gracious through the man, 
And sheds sweet glories on them all. 

Ah ! my children, what a glorious and bless- 
ed place must heaven be ! Under the idea of 
a city, the apostle John has told us something 
about it. No language can adequately de- 
scribe it ; nor can I, or you even imagine the 
glories, which belong to it. Think of a city, 
whose foundations are garnished with pre- 
cious stones. Its wall is jasper ; its buildings 
pure and pellucid gold ; its gates pearl ; its 
watchmen angels. And in the midst of it is 
the throne of God ; and out of that throne 
flows the river of life, and, on the banks of it, 
blossoms the tree of immortality. No tem- 
ple stands there ; but the city itself is the tern- 



Lee. VII.] REMARKS. 175 



Society of heaven. 



pie of the living God. No moon shines there ; 
no sun sheds abroad his beams ; and yet, no 
darkness dims, and no clouds obscure. God 
himself is the great sun, who shines forth in 
one cloudless and eternal day. 

And, then, think what society is there ! — Je- 
sus himself the great fountain of life and joy ! 
and there, too, are the angels, those noble, and 
holy, and happy spirits, wiio, on the morning 
of the creation, sung their anthem of praise ; 
and, on the plains of Bethlehem, tuned their 
hymn of delight — growing old, and yet bloom- 
ing with eternal youth ; glowing with a pure, 
serene, and intense flame of love. 

And there, too, are the saints ransomed with 
the blood of Jesus, dressed in their robes of 
life and glory — filled with the fulness of God, 
and singing with new and ever increasing de- 
light — "Unto him who hath loved us, and 
washed us in his blood, to him be glory for- 
ever and ever." In that delighted and blessed 
throng, you would see, were you there, Abra- 



176 concluding [Lee. VIL 



Do you wish to go to heaven 1 



ham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and there, too, 
you might see Moses, and David, and Paul, 
and an innumerable company, which no man 
can number. 

My children, have you had a father, and is 
he dead, and was he a Christian ? You would 
see him there also. Perhaps your mother 
is dead, and there she may be too, and there 
also you may have a brother, or a sister. But 
whether this be so or not, there are thousands 
and tens of thousands of little spirits, like 
your own, who are beholding the glories of 
the Redeemer, and are helping to swell loud 
and high his praises. 

And have you no wish, my children, to 
join them ? To see what they see, and love 
as they love % Do you not sometimes ask : 

When shall the day, dear Lord, appear, 
That I shall mount to dwell above 3 

And stand, and bow, and worship there, 
And view thy face, and sing, and love 1 



Lee. VII.] REMARKS. 177 



What you must do then. 



Ah ! when will that day come ? When will 
you he there? Perhaps— perhaps, never. 

" But did not Christ die for me V* you ask. 

Yes, he died for you ; he died for all. But, 
then, my children, if you ever reach heaven, 
you have something to do. You are young ; 
but you have already sinned, more than I can 
tell ; and before you can go to heaven, you 
must repent. This Jesus Christ has himself 
told you. What Christ has done, is not that 
you may go to heaven, without repenting; 
but if you do repent. God forgives all, and 
accepts of all, who are sincerely sorry for the 
evil they have done, and w r ho turn from it, 
and do so no more. This is repentance. 
But another thing you must do. You must 
believe in Christ. I do not mean by this sim- 
ply, that you must believe that he once lived 
on earth, and died on the cross. This you 
may believe, and yet never reach heaven. 
But what I mean is, that you must love and 
confide in him, and if you do love him, and con- 



178 concluding [Lee. VII. 



The inhabitants of heaven holy. 



fide in him, in the sense I mean, you will en- 
deavor to please him. You will do, as he has 
said. You will shun sin, because he hates it ; 
and because it is hateful You will love that 
which is good or holy, because he loves it; 
and because it is good. 

The inhabitants of heaven are all holy be- 
ings. There is not one who loves sin, or 
who would do the least wrong. There is no 
falsehood in heaven — not an unkind word- 
not an*angry look — not a reproachful feeling. 
The most perfect harmony and love prevail. 
All unite in doing good one to another — eve- I 
ry one delights to see those around him, as 
happy, and even happier than himself. There 
is not a selfish feeling throughout all heaven 
— not one that covets, what does not belong 
to him, and which it is not perfectly right for 
him to desire. 

And it is because the inhabitants of heaven 
feel thus, and act thus, that heaven is so de- 
lightful and desirable an abode. Hence you 



Lee. VIL] REMARKS. 179 

Children may soon die. 

see my children, that ere you can join that 
blessed assembly, or are fitted to dwell in that 
delightful country, you must become in the 
feelings of your hearts, like to them. Now, 
you are not like them. You know that you 
are not; you feel that you are not. Your little 
hearts are false, and selfish — and an hundred 
other bad things I might, in truth, say about 
them, and until these hearts are changed, you 
cannot go to heaven. 

And, yet, you may die, and you may die 
soon. It is not certain that you will live an- 
other week, or another day. With such 
hearts as you have, you would be afraid to 
die, and well you might fear; for with such 
hearts, you could have no hope of being hap- 
py forever. 

Now, then, my children, what ought you to 
do ? Will you still live in sin ? Will you 
grow up wicked men, and wicked women ? 
Grow up ! You may not live, as I told you, 
to grow up ; but should you, would you 
spend your whole lives in sin ? 



180 concluding [Lee. VII. 



Are you not anxious 1 



Tell me, children, have you no regard for 
the welfare of your precious souls ? Do you 
know what it is to lose them ? What it is to 
be excluded forever from the society of Jesus, 
and the holy inhabitants of heaven, and to be 
sent away into the dark and gloomy prison of 
despair % From that prison there is no es- 
cape, and within its walls, joy never lights up 
a smile, and mercy itself never excites a hope* 
Indeed, my children, 

In that lone land of deep despair, 

No Sabbath's heavenly light shall rise ; 

No God regard your bitter prayer, 
Nor Saviour call you to the skies. 

Are you, again I ask— can you be indiffer- 
ent to the welfare of your souls ? Those 
souls will never die. God has decided, that 
they shall live forever. An eternity, then ? 
of joy or of sorrow, is before you. Have you 
ever seriously thought of this % Did you ev- 
er think what must be the value of that soul f 



Lee. VII.] REMARKS. 181 



What must heaven be 1 



which may increase in knowledge, and holi- 
ness, and joy, forever and ever? 

Yet, you have such a soul, and it has all 
that value, which I have here supposed. If, 
at last, it belongs to Christ — if you shall have 
repented of sin — if you shall have put your 
trust in him, and shall have walked with him 
in a humble and obedient life, you will, at 
length, ascend where he reigns, and behold 
his glory. You will sing his praises in the 
temple of glory, with all who have been ran- 
somed by his blood, and with the innumera- 
ble company of angels, who have maintained 
their love and attachment to God. 

What a society will this be to dwell with ! 
Think of it. What must it be to see Gabriel 
himself! — what to talk with the patriarchs 
and prophets of ancient times, and to learn 
from their lips, what they have known — and 
what they have felt of the manifold goodness 
of God. How improving — how delightful 
must such society be ! 
16 



182 concluding [Lee. VII. 



Why many lose heaven. 



Nor is this all — -you may, perhaps, see the 
wonders of God's wisdom and glory, as they 
are displayed in other worlds. If the opinion 
be correct, that our day of judgment will affect 
only the solar system, and this may be true, 
one part of your delightful employment through 
eternity, may be, to study the works of God, 
and through them to obtain higher and higher 
knowledge of his power, goodness, wisdom, 
and love — and while you are thus increasing 
in the knowledge of God, you will be growing 
more holy, more lovely, more like God him- 
self. 

And now, my children, if heaven be thus de- 
sirable, will you not give all diligence to se- 
cure it, for yourselves ? Hundreds and thou- 
sands lose heaven, through their supreme love 
of this world. They are unwilling to forsake 
all for Christ. They think more of a few day's 
earthly joy, than an eternity of solid bliss- 
more of a bubble, which may burst at any mo- 
ment, than of a crown of immortal glory. My 



Lee. VII.] REMARKS. 188 



What can the world do "i 



children, you are in danger of loving this 
world to your eternal ruin. Things around 
you look bright and happy. You suspect no 
danger, and you yield your hearts to the en- 
joyment of earthly good. Ere you are aware, 
the world becomes your idol. In the love 
and enjoyment of it, you forget your souls — 
you forget heaven — you forget Christ — you al- 
most forget that you were born to die. Thus 
perhaps, you live ; and, when death comes, 
you have nothing to rest upon, but the world 
only. In that hour, what can the world do 
for you ? You may have the honors and the 
titles of the greatest earthly monarch — and 
you may have the wealth of the Indies — what 
will they profit you ? They cannot stay death 
a single moment, nor purchase the pardon of 
a single sin. If then, in that dread hour, you 
have no other source of comfort, and no oth- 
er dependance but the world, you will be poor 
and wretched indeed. This has been the 
melancholy condition of thousands, and you 
are in danger of the same. 



184 concluding [Lec. VII. 



Religion no weak concern. 



But there is one other danger, against which 
I would warn you. It is this. You will be 
told, that to become religious is the mark of 
a weak mind. You will be advised to act like 
men — not to weep — not to fear — not to pray — 
not to concern yourself about death, or a future 
world. These things, you will be told, be- 
long to persons of weak and sickly minds. 

But, my children, against such folly and im- 
piety, be on your guard. What ! is religion a 
weak concern ? Is the Bible a foolish tale ? 
Is it a mark of weakness to be afraid of that 
God, "who is a consuming fire'?' 7 Is it 
childish to be sorry when we have done 
wrong? Is humility dishonorable? Is a life 
devoted to God deserving of contempt and 
ridicule? When you read of the piety and 
zeal of Abraham, and Moses, and David, and 
Paul, do they appear weak ? Was Newton a 
weak man ? Was Wilberforce ? Was pre- 
sident D wight? Or Payson, or Evarts, or 
a thousand others, whom I could name? 



Lee. VII.] REMARKS. 185 



Never be ashamed of Jesus 



Were these weak men 7 One might well 
blush at the weakness of the suggestion, that 
they were weak, and deeper might one blush at 
the suggestion, that religion itself is a weak 
concern. 

Finally, my children, let me exhort you. in 
every situation and in every circumstance of 
life, to entertain high and exalted sentiments 
towards the Lord Jesus Christ. He is worthy 
of all your admiration, all your love, all your 
service. Enlist yourselves in his cause. It 
is a nobler cause than any other in the present 
world ; and " it will ultimately prevail, it will 
finally triumph." Of Jesus and his cause 
you need never be ashamed. But if at any 
time you are so tempted, ask yourselves, in 
the justly admired words of the poet : 

Jesus ! and shall it ever be, 
A mortal man ashamed of thee ! 
Ashamed of thee, whom angels praise, 
Whose glories shine thro' endless days? 



186 CONCLUDING REMARKS. LeC. VII.] 



Boast a Saviour slain ! 



Ashamed of Jesus ! that dear friend 
On whom my hopes of heav'n depend ! 
No ! when I blush, be this my shame. 
That I no more revere his name. 

Asham'd of Jesus ! yes, I may, 
When Fve no guilt to wash away — 
No tear to wipe — no good to crave — 
No fear to quell — no soul to save. 

Till then — nor is my boasting vain — 
Till then, I boast a Saviour slain ! 
And oh, may this my glory be, 
That Christ is not ashamed of me. 



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